The Canadian iGaming market was brought to life in 2022 when Ontario officially opened its doors for business. The country is set to receive another significant boost in the coming years, with Alberta announcing it is following Ontario’s lead and opening its own iGaming market.
Similar Model to Ontario
Alberta Minister of Service and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally announced at the Canadian Gaming Summit last week that the province is now officially moving forward with the launch of its own gambling market.
Minister Nally, in his announcement, confirmed that Alberta is set to emulate Ontario's successful model. The province will look to Ontario for guidance, with the aim of creating a free and open market for operators and players in Alberta.
However, he did not state a timeline for the market's opening, but he did say that there were legal steps in place for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to get started. Nally confirmed that there were ongoing discussions to plan the best way for the province to move forward.
Regulation
The only regulated gaming operator in Alberta is the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Regulator, which runs the popular PlayAlberta brand. Nally has confirmed that the company will not be regulating the wider iGaming industry when it launches.
One of the biggest reasons for this is the company’s continued presence in the market. Operators do not want to be regulated by someone who could be seen as a competitor in the region.
Once again, Alberta may look to Ontario for guidance with this. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is the province’s regulator, but iGaming Ontario manages gaming operations.
As part of the process, Nally also confirmed that First Nations in the province would be involved in the marketplace and said that discussions with them were ongoing.
