Last Updated On 9 July 2026, 12:25 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
If you are new to Canada as an immigrant, it’s worth noting that legislative powers are divided between the federal government and the provinces, meaning that some laws – criminal, immigration & citizenship, banking – are uniform from coast to coast, whereas others, such as property law and employment law, will take their cues from provincial legislation.
Online casino gaming and sports betting fall into the latter category, with a disparate set of regulations across the provinces and territories. For years, the biggest and most liberal market has been Ontario, but in a few weeks, Alberta will see a sweeping set of reforms come into place, effectively legalizing a competitive online gambling market for the first time.
Does that mean casino gaming online was illegal in Alberta before? No, as is so often the case in Canada, it’s a little bit complicated. Beforehand, legal online casino gaming was offered by Play Alberta, a government-owned platform. There was also the grey market, i.e., a series of remote platforms that operated without a license.
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Big casino brands will launch legally in Alberta
What changes now is an opening up of the market, bringing in some of the world’s casino brands to compete against Play Alberta. It also gives those who were operating in the grey market a chance to get their credentials to operate under Alberta’s new regulations. You can check here to see a list of some of the major brands that will be operating in Alberta from July 13.
So why the changes? Well, the main concern is the grey market. There has been an acceptance in Alberta that people are going to access platforms from remote operators come what may. Some studies suggest up to 70% of player wagering is conducted on unlicensed platforms, so opening up the market gives the provincial government a chance to regulate that market, bringing in better controls and player protections.
There is also the tax take, which is one of the main arguments from lawmakers to open up the market. It basically allows the province to collect revenue from activity that is already taking place. At present, much of the money spent through grey-market websites leaves the provincial system.
More choice for players with real competition
The good news is that it should immediately mean better choices for players in a regulated environment. It could, for instance, prompt Play Alberta to become more competitive in what it offers, and it could create better conditions as dozens of licensed brands compete against one another.
We should point out that there are some restrictions that will remain in place. There are no clear regulations for online bingo at present. In addition, Alberta will not allow betting on politics and elections. Play Alberta will remain the only authorized operator of lottery products.
The key date, then, is July 13. Not all operators will go live at the stroke of midnight, as many will still have to iron out the wrinkles in acquiring the appropriate licenses – it can be a staggered process. However, it will eventually lead to Alberta and its 5 million residents having a mature, competitive online casino gaming market with the regulatory protections that experts agree are necessary. It will also create a direct rival to Ontario as the epicenter of Canadian online casino gaming.
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