Regulatory issues delays Alberta’s iGaming expansion

An expansion of iGaming in Alberta has been pushed back due to ongoing regulatory issues.

Ontario vs Alberta

Much talk over the past few months has centered around Alberta following Ontario’s roadmap of having a more laissez-faire attitude towards iGaming.

• Ontario has pivoted to a more “open and free” stance on online gambling.

• Alberta remains behind other provinces.

• Play Alberta is currently the only legal gambling platform for residents.

Regulatory Challenges

It has been confirmed that plans to expand iGaming in Alberta have been moved back to 2025 as ministers seek to resolve underlying regulatory issues.

Brandon Aboultaif, spokesman for Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, explained:

• Alberta wants a business environment that ensures fairness and transparency.

• More industry input is being gathered before a final model is launched.

• Updates will continue as the strategy develops toward 2025.

Financial and Tax Considerations

Although Play Alberta, which launched in 2020, generated a projected $5.36 billion for 2023-24, challenges remain.

• Illegal gambling still represents a significant share of the market.

• Entry of new operators may be delayed until late 2025.

• Proposed 25% gambling tax rate is higher than Ontario’s 20%.

Outlook

Things remain uncertain, but clarity may emerge by early 2025. Alberta’s iGaming future depends on balancing regulation, taxation, and market demand.