Alberta Pledges $14M From iGaming Revenue to Narrow Rural Charity Casino Gap

^{New grant funded by regulated online gambling targets the gap in what rural and urban charities earn from casino events. (Image: Brendan Nogue/Alamy)} 

Alberta will direct nearly $14 million a year in new revenue from its regulated iGaming market to rural charities that work casino events, Premier Danielle Smith announced Nov. 3.

Smith made the announcement at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta fall convention in Edmonton.

“Our government is creating a new grant program that will provide nearly $14 million more each year to eligible charities,” Smith said.

The grant is meant to address a gap in the province’s charitable gaming model, which licenses charities to run events at land-based casinos in Alberta.

Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally, who is responsible for the grant, told CBC News the program will launch next year. 

Nally said eligible rural charities that hold a casino event will be able to apply for extra funding once the program is set up.

“This will address how a rural charity working a casino weekend takes home about 65% less than a charity doing the same work in Edmonton or Calgary."

Details on eligibility and how the money will be divided were not immediately available.

Alberta is the only province where charitable groups are licensed to conduct and manage casino events, according to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).

Charities are assigned a casino in their region, and rural groups outside Calgary are assigned events at Century Casino in Calgary because no casino exists close to them, AGLC says. 

Wait times for a casino event range from 17 to 41 months, according to AGLC.

AGLC says the model raised about $337 million for charities in 2024-25, with 67.6% of that coming from casino events.

The announcement follows pressure from local governments.

A St. Albert resolution on the charitable gaming model passed at the Alberta Municipalities convention on Sept. 24 with 94.6% support, the St. Albert Gazette reported.

The resolution cited 2024 annualized returns of just over $7,300 for the St. Albert casino region, compared with $42,730 in Edmonton and $49,281 in Calgary. 

St. Albert’s wait for key events was 31 months, against 22 months in Edmonton, according to the same report.

Alberta launched its private iGaming market July 13, allowing the province to license and tax regulated online casinos and sportsbooks that operate within its borders.

Operators in Alberta’s regulated market keep 80% of net iGaming revenue, and the province keeps 20%.

Before that split, 3% of gross gaming revenue is set aside: 2% for First Nations and 1% for social responsibility programs, including gambling research, prevention, education and treatment.