Alberta ends igaming transition with 29 operators approved
Alberta’s igaming transition ended October 13 with 29 operators and 50 brands approved. Unlicensed sites now face enforcement.
Canada.- Alberta has ended the three-month transition period for online gambling operators to enter its regulated market, requiring unlicensed sites to stop accepting bets from October 13. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) says it will monitor compliance and take enforcement action against operators that continue serving Albertans without approval, including those still awaiting authorisation.
By the deadline, 29 operators and 50 brands had received approval from the AGLC and the Alberta igaming Corporation (AiGC). The AiGC has a public list of approved sites on its website.
The launch marks the culmination of several years of legislative work aimed at creating a competitive and locally supervised industry. Alberta’s framework was largely based on the model introduced in Ontario in 2022, which helped build confidence that a similar approach could succeed in the province.
“Alberta’s regulated igaming market exists to protect Albertans. We look forward to working with operators who have chosen accountability by transitioning away from the illegal grey market,” said AiGC chief executive Dan Keene.
BetMGM has reported encouraging results since launching in Alberta on July 13. The operator said its per-player metrics were exceeding those recorded during its Ontario launch. The company’s chief financial officer Gary Deutsch said Alberta accounted for about 20 per cent of the new players acquired by the company in the third quarter and had outpaced internal forecasts and daily targets.
