What Is the AGLC and How Does It Regulate Online Gambling?

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) is the provincial body that regulates online gambling in Alberta. It sets the rules operators must follow, approves who can run a legal iGaming site, and enforces player protection standards. 

From July 13, 2026, the AGLC oversees a regulated Alberta iGaming market for private operators.

This page explains what the AGLC is, how it came to regulate online gambling, and what its registration framework means for operators and players.

The AGLC is a provincial agency of the Government of Alberta. It is responsible for gaming, liquor, and cannabis oversight across the province. In gambling, it regulates casinos, lotteries, charitable gaming, and now private online gaming.

The AGLC operates under Alberta's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act (the GLCA), the statute that sets out its authority. Under that Act, the AGLC administers provincial lotteries and carries out gaming functions delegated to the province under the Criminal Code of Canada. It is an agent of the Crown, accountable to a provincial minister.

In short, the AGLC is the licensing and enforcement authority. Any operator that wants to offer legal online gambling in Alberta must answer to it.

For years, many Albertans played on offshore sites that the province could not regulate or tax. Play Alberta was the only Alberta-run online option. The government moved to open a regulated private market so that residents could play on sites held to provincial standards.

Alberta's iGaming framework splits the work between two bodies. The AGLC is the market regulator. A separate provincial corporation, the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), conducts and manages the market and signs operating agreements with approved operators.

The regulated private market launches on July 13, 2026. Before that date, operators in the registration process may advertise and sign up prospective customers, but they cannot accept deposits or take bets until launch.

To operate legally, a company must first register with the AGLC, which handles regulatory oversight. It must then sign an operating agreement with the AiGC. Only operators that complete both steps can go live on July 13.

Registration is not a formality. Operators must meet the AGLC's Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming, which cover technical integrity, game fairness, and security. They also carry ongoing obligations, including:

• Responsible gambling measures, including a centralized self-exclusion system players can use across registered sites.
• Strict advertising and marketing rules that prohibit targeting minors or vulnerable people.
• Technical and data standards that protect player funds and personal information.

For players, the difference between a registered and an unregistered operator matters. A registered Alberta operator is bound by these standards, offers responsible gambling tools, and operates under provincial oversight. An unregistered offshore site carries none of those protections, and players have little recourse if something goes wrong.

The AGLC publishes its list of registered iGaming operators and suppliers on its official iGaming page. Before signing up anywhere, players can confirm a brand appears on that list.

You can find the current registrants list on the AGLC's iGaming registration page. If an operator is not on the AGLC's list, it is not registered to offer online gambling in Alberta.

See more: How to verify an AGLC-licensed casino in Alberta. 

Alberta's structure closely mirrors the Ontario online casino market, the first Canadian province to open a private online market. In Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is the regulator. A separate agency, iGaming Ontario (iGO), conducts and manages the market and holds the operator agreements.

Alberta uses the same two-body model: the AGLC as regulator, the AiGC in the conduct-and-manage role. The main difference is timing. Ontario launched its regulated market in April 2022, while Alberta's opens on July 13, 2026.

The minimum age to gamble online in Alberta is 18. All registered operators must verify age and identity before a player can deposit or bet.

Choosing a registered operator means playing on a site that meets AGLC standards for fairness, security, and responsible gambling. To see how the wider market fits together, visit our guide to the best online casinos in Alberta.

Comparing your options? Read our reviews of online casinos available in Alberta:

• FanDuel Casino Alberta Review
• BetRivers Casino Alberta Review
• Hollywood Casino Alberta Review
• bet365 Casino Alberta Review
• Betty Casino Alberta Review
• Lucky Days Casino Alberta Review
• BetMGM Casino Alberta Review
• Caesars Casino Alberta Review
• Stardust Casino Alberta Review
• Horseshoe Online Casino Alberta Review
• theScore Bet Casino Alberta Review