Authorities in Alberta have opened applications for gambling licences

Alberta has opened applications for private online gambling companies, formally kicking off the province’s move toward a regulated iGaming market expected to launch in 2026. The registration window opened on 14 January, shortly after the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) published its Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming.

Applications are now being accepted from both consumer-facing operators (B2C) and business suppliers (B2B). While authorities have not announced a precise go-live date, provincial officials have confirmed that Alberta’s online gambling market will open next year.

Licence fees and market entry rules

Alberta’s licensing framework allows companies to enter the market under clearly separated operator and supplier categories.

Online gambling operators are required to pay a one-time application fee of CA$50,000 (about $36,000), along with an annual licence fee of CA$150,000 (approximately $108,000).

Suppliers face lower costs depending on their function. Casino platform providers and other core infrastructure services will pay an annual fee of CA$15,000 (around $10,800). All other approved suppliers — including payment services, sports data companies, integrity monitors, and testing laboratories — will be charged CA$3,000 per year (roughly $2,200). No application fee applies to B2B licences.

Registration is conducted through the AGLC, with operators also required to sign a commercial agreement with the newly created Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), which will oversee specific operational aspects of the system.

Taxation and revenue allocation

Under the updated Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, operators will retain 80% of revenues generated from 97% of gross gaming revenue (GGR). A mandatory 3% of GGR will be directed toward funding Indigenous communities and social initiatives, while an additional 20% will be collected through direct taxation.

Although Alberta’s licensing costs exceed those in Ontario, the overall structure is viewed as competitive, particularly given the province’s market potential.

Player protection and compliance measures

The AGLC standards place strong emphasis on compliance and responsible gambling. Licensed operators must ensure that access is limited exclusively to players located within Alberta. Gambling systems are required to block users if geolocation cannot be confirmed and must actively detect attempts to bypass restrictions through VPNs, proxies, or modified devices. All location checks must be logged for audit purposes.

Alberta will also introduce a centralised self-exclusion system managed by the AGLC. This approach mirrors developments in Ontario, where the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is preparing its own province-wide self-exclusion platform for online gambling.

Ending the grey market dominance

Currently, Play Alberta — operated by the AGLC — remains the province’s only legal online gambling platform. Despite this, many residents continue to play on offshore sites operating outside provincial oversight.

The passage of the Alberta Online Gambling Act in May 2025 enabled the province to regulate private operators and formally address the grey market. Consultations held throughout 2024 focused on balancing market growth with player safety and reclaiming revenue lost to unlicensed platforms.

Industry impact across Canada

Alberta’s move significantly strengthens Canada’s regulated online casino sector. Together with Ontario, where a competitive iGaming market has been operating for several years and where Thunderkick recently expanded in the province through a partnership with PointsBet — Alberta now forms a second major pillar of regulated online gambling in Canada. Alberta represents nearly 18.5 million residents — close to half of the country’s population.

For the wider industry, Alberta’s licensing launch reinforces a clear trend: Canadian provinces are increasingly favouring regulated competition over monopoly models. For online casino operators, this signals long-term stability and expansion opportunities. For regulators, it represents a critical test of whether modern licensing frameworks can curb illegal gambling while maintaining strong consumer protections.