Alberta just made its move—and it’s a big one. The Canadian province passed Bill 48,officially titled the Alberta iGaming Act, positioning itself as the next major battleground for online casinos and sports betting in North America.
Backed by the United Conservative Party, the new legislation sets up a regulatory framework similar to Ontario’s open market model launched in 2022. But Alberta’s ambitions go further: the act allows for the creation of a dedicated Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will license and oversee private operators entering the province’s digital gambling space.
With this move, Alberta becomes the first western Canadian province to open its doors to commercial iGaming platforms. Industry insiders already see it as “Canada’s next gold rush”, with comparisons to the rapid revenue surge Ontario experienced after launching its own market.
Is Alberta the new gold rush for Canadian gaming?
The legislation also provides a pathway for existing gray-market operators to become fully licensed, improving consumer protections and channeling funds into provincial coffers.
Notably, efforts to bake in strict responsible gambling rules—like auto-exclusion systems and independent audits—were postponed for later regulation phases. Still, the industry expects a solid framework by early 2026, when the market is expected to go live.
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The unregulated online gambling market in Canada remains significant
From an investment standpoint, Alberta’s entry into iGaming sends a clear signal: Canada’s digital gambling scene is far from saturated. And with Alberta’s tech-savvy population and favorable tax climate, this could be the beginning of something massive.
