Alberta is taking a major step to reshape its digital betting landscape by actively courting private gambling companies to join its soon-to-launch provincially regulated online market. New regulations introduced on Tuesday, January 14, 2026, establish the legal framework for major operators such as BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings to accept wagers in the province, a market currently dominated by a single government-run site.
A New Framework for a Lucrative Market
The provincial government, through Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, acknowledges that unregulated private websites already command a significant portion of Alberta's online gambling activity. Minister Nally stated these sites may comprise as much as 70 per cent of the current market. The new rules are designed to draw these operators into a legal and safer environment for consumers.
"We're confident that the operators are going to come to this place to participate in a safer ecosystem for gambling, and we're confident that Albertans are going to respond to that as well," Nally said in an interview. He emphasized the goal is not to capture 100% of gamblers immediately but to attract as many as possible to the regulated space, which will offer enhanced consumer protections.
Modelled After Ontario's Success
The Alberta system is closely modelled after Ontario's iGaming market, which launched in April 2022 and has seen substantial growth. As of a recent report covering April 2024 to March 2025, Ontario's market included 49 operators across 84 gaming sites, generating a staggering $82.7 billion in total wagers and $3.2 billion in gross gaming revenue.
Alberta's framework will apply to both virtual casinos and traditional sports betting. It will also mirror Ontario's advertising restrictions, including a ban on using current or retired athletes in gambling ads, though such figures can appear in responsible gambling messages. "Our objective is to make it safer. Make it a little more responsible," Nally explained.
Timeline and Consumer Safeguards
While Minister Nally could not provide a precise launch date for the new private market, he indicated it would be "sooner as opposed to later," estimating it would take "a few months" for interested companies to complete the sign-on process.
The newly introduced regulations go beyond simply opening the market. They include specific tax rates, website operation rules, and critical player safety measures. These safeguards are set to include:
- A system-wide self-exclusion program.
- Tools for players to set financial loss limits.
- Options to impose time-based restrictions on play.
This regulatory push follows the passage of Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, in May of last year. For now, the government's Play Alberta site remains the sole legal online gaming platform in the province. It reported net sales of $270 million for the last fiscal year, an increase of $35 million from the previous period.
By creating a competitive but tightly regulated market, Alberta aims to bring a large segment of its online gambling economy into the open, ensuring greater consumer safety and generating provincial revenue. The move signals a significant shift in Western Canada's gaming industry, with Alberta poised to become the second province after Ontario to host a open, regulated market for private iGaming operators.
