Alberta Confirms July 13 as iGaming Market Launch Date

^{Alberta's provincial government has officially confirmed July 13, 2026, as the launch date for its regulated iGaming market, opening the door for private operators to compete with the government-run Play Alberta platform. (Photo: Felix Choo / Alamy)}

Alberta officials have announced that the province’s new, regulated iGaming market will launch on July 13, 2026, making Alberta the second Canadian province after Ontario to offer an open online gambling marketplace. 

The date was confirmed in a letter to stakeholders on Monday from Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally, first reported on by Canadian Gaming Business. The announcement matched previous communication that suggested a summer 2026 launch, but now gives a definitive date for the first time.

Grey Market Operators Must Exit Alberta by Launch Date

The launch date reveal came on the heels of another announcement from Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC), which set July 13 as the deadline for operators to apply to enter the iGaming market.

In a guidance document for the iGaming market, AGLC made it clear that any operator running an unregulated platform or lottery scheme in Alberta must submit a completed application and pay all required registration fees by the deadline. They are also required to stop taking any bets by the deadline.

But while that hinted at a launch around summer, it wasn’t until Nally’s letter that operators had a clear, definitive date for when they could expect to open their Alberta-facing sites.

“The launch of a regulated iGaming market is an exciting chapter for our province, and I am confident that we can work together to build a market that is both competitive and socially responsible,” Nally wrote. “Alberta’s future in iGaming is bright, and, with your partnership, we will ensure it is a success for everyone.” 

On Tuesday, the AGLC website also publicly acknowledged the launch date as the day operators would finally be able to “conduct and manage their legally registered iGaming platform in Alberta.”

Dozens of Brands Express Interest in Alberta Market

Currently, regulated and licensed iGaming in Alberta is provided entirely by the government-run Play Alberta platform. However, provincial officials estimate that approximately 70% of all online gambling in Alberta is done on offshore and unregulated sites. The government hopes to capture that market share by bringing popular private operators into the market.

Right now, there’s still no confirmation of which brands will officially operate in Alberta. But there’s still time for more companies to jump into the fray. 

According to AGLC, it has seen “strong interest from over 55 operator sites,” but only nine of those have made the required payments as of this point. However, many big-name operators have publicly expressed interest in Alberta, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet, among others.