According to Gaming Intelligence, Alberta’s regulated online gambling market will launch on July 13, with system-wide self-exclusion, financial and time-based limit tools, and activity statements available from the start. Licensed operators will also have to act when signs of problem gambling are identified.
The province will become the second Canadian province to run a commercial online casino and sports betting market, after Ontario. Minister Dale Nally said player protection and social responsibility would be central, and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Corporation began accepting registration applications in January after amendments to the Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Regulation were approved.
All operators must integrate their platforms with the AGLC’s centralized self-exclusion system. PlayAlberta is the province’s only licensed iGaming site at present, and the AGLC said 55 sites had applied for licences.
In a separate announcement, the Alberta iGaming Corporation said RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council will be mandatory for all internet gaming sites entering the market. Operators must maintain that accreditation in good standing, and existing RG Check holders in other jurisdictions will get a streamlined transition.
GamingToday described Alberta’s model as a structural approach that builds consumer protection into the framework as a top priority. It said the current grey market leaves players to find resources themselves, with optional settings, inconsistent prompts and limited enforcement.
Alberta allocates 1% of annual gross gaming revenue to social responsibility initiatives, including responsible gambling programs, prevention efforts and treatment services. GamingToday said the funding is meant to support monitoring, intervention and support as the market grows, with the market potentially challenging $1 billion annually at maturity.
Temporary transition measures are in place for unregulated operators. The AGLC can grant a case-by-case extension of up to three months, to October 13, where an operator can show a compliance path that was not possible before launch.
