Alberta’s online gambling market, which is about to be launched, has already started the operator sign ups. The companies that are currently licensed in Ontario are getting ready to enter the province.
On January 13, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis released a set of guidelines that give companies the permission to submit plans for entering the market.
They give priority to operators that are licensed in Ontario with a fast track approval process. The framework allows licensed companies from other Canadian jurisdictions to rely on their existing licenses, thereby reducing the paperwork and making their entry into Alberta more convenient.
In Alberta, PointsBet has officially commenced its licensing process, thus the operator will be able to carry out customer sign ups and marketing activities even before the official market launch. The sportsbook is expected to be launched along with online casino products on a single platform. The regulation in Alberta fully corresponds to the responsible gambling standards and practices that are very well established. This move taps into PointBet’s current experience in Ontario and Australia, where it is operating in very strongly regulated environments. The news points to yet another major milestone in the brand’s expansion in Canada.
BetRivers operator RSI has applied for a gaming license in Alberta. The company wants to replicate its successful launch in Ontario locally in Alberta. As RSI prepares for the Alberta market, they are looking at a casino, centric type of rollout. The province’s rules for gambling fit very well with the operator’s way of doing business. Through focusing on platform flexibility and strong regulatory compliance, the expansion leverages RSI’s vast experience in regulated online casino markets on both sides of the US, Canadian border.
Several well known US based operators are preparing to submit licensing applications in Alberta. Included among these are PENN Entertainment’s theScore Bet, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, and Betway. These companies offer multi, vertical gaming products and are planning to increase their presence throughout Canada. Having their licenses in Ontario at the moment, along with regulatory compatibility, will probably make their market entry faster. Equipped with proven platforms and established infrastructures, these companies are very well placed to act quickly.
Release of the Alberta market is giving rise to the perception of very strong landscape opportunities at a much larger regional scale. One regulated license only limits operators to move across such product lines as poker, online casino offerings, and sports betting. It is estimated that being there at the very beginning will give the brands the advantage in grabbing attention and customer growth. The licensing rules and the everyday operations are being sorted out with a very strong emphasis on compliance and responsible gambling.
Alberta is making itself known as a leading online gambling center in Canada. Those companies already running their businesses in Ontario are expected to be the first to exploit the fresh market in the province. The regulations focus mainly on the protection of players, responsible gambling, and a wide range of platforms. Whoever gets in early will most probably be those brands that take possession of the market and get long term recognition. Since there is a lot of interest both from Canadian and US based operators, the launch of Alberta is a big deal for the iGaming sector of the country.
