Alberta Sets July 13 Deadline for Online Casino Applications

^{Despite huge public interest from over 55 operators, only nine casino sites have paid the necessary fees to enter Alberta’s legal iGaming market, which launches later this year. (Image: Ronnie Chua, Alamy)}

Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) has set Monday, July 13, as the deadline for online casino operators to apply for a place in the province's upcoming legal iGaming market. "

Although no official launch date for the Alberta market has been announced, it's widely expected to open in Q3 of this year.

While over 55 operators publicly expressed their interest in offering their services to players in the province, only nine of those sites have actually applied for the necessary gaming licence. 

“Despite strong interest from over 55 operator sites, only nine sites have paid the required fees to date. Regulatory Services is closely monitoring advertising and overall market activity; continued non-compliance may materially impact future suitability determinations,” AGLC said in a statement. 

Alberta has largely followed Ontario's iGaming model, which currently has 47 licensed operators running 81 brands for comparison.

Who Has Applied So Far

While it’s not entirely clear which exact nine sites are fully paid up, a handful of gaming brands have already opened pre-registration, allowing players to create an account now in advance of being able to gamble later this year.

Platforms offering pre-registration include PointsBet, BetRivers, theScore Bet, and Caesars Entertainment. The latter platform will enter the market with three brands: Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Online Casino.

Bet99, BetMGM, BetRivers, Betty, DraftKings, FanDuel, High Roller Technologies, NorthStar Gaming, PowerPlay, Soft2Bet, Super Group, and TonyBet have all also signaled their intent to enter Alberta via various press releases and media interviews.

A Path for Grey Market Operators

Currently, there are a number of ‘grey market’ online casinos that facilitate gamblers from within Alberta via internationally licensed versions of their brands that seek a local license and operate under the province's gambling laws. When these operators launch their regulated Alberta platforms, existing customers will be required to open a new account before they can continue gambling.

In a recently released Guidance Document, AGLC outlined steps that current unregulated or ‘grey market’ operators will need to take to transition into Alberta’s regulated market:

“Any operator, or their associated entities, who is or has been operating an unregulated lottery scheme in Alberta must submit a completed application and pay all applicable registration fees to AGLC no later than July 13, 2026. 
Additionally, operators must also cease any unregulated lottery scheme activities (i.e. taking bets) by July 13, 2026.” 
 

July 13 will also serve as the cutoff date for players who use these sites, as operators will need to settle or refund all outstanding bets in advance of this deadline.

It’s estimated that up to 80% of Alberta's online gamblers play on unregulated sites, with the remaining 20% playing on the government-owned PlayAlberta. 

Cost of Entry Into Alberta's iGaming Market

Under the recently-opened Alberta licence application process, operators must register with the AGLC. They are also required to enter into a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC).

A one-time application fee of $50,000 is required, along with an annual registration fee of $150,000 for each brand an operator intends to run in the province. For example, running two branded sites would require a $50,000 upfront fee, plus $300,000 per year. 

Every operator and supplier must also connect to the province’s centralized self-exclusion system. These will ensure that players can block themselves from all gambling in Alberta, including online platforms, land-based casinos, and racing venues.

Alberta’s provincial government will also take 20% of net iGaming revenue in taxes, with operators keeping 80%. An additional 2% of total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) is allocated to First Nations, and 1% is allocated to social responsibility initiatives.

For those who cannot meet the July 13 deadline, AGLC said it will consider extensions of up to three months, pushing the cutoff to October 13, 2026. But extensions will only be allowed on a case-by-case basis for operators who can "demonstrate a path to compliance for market launch that was unattainable prior to July 13, 2026.”
 

What Else Is on Alberta's Gaming Agenda

In other Alberta gaming news, AGLC also recently announced that betting on political elections will be outlawed. By contrast, that type of betting is allowed in Ontario, whose iGaming model Alberta has largely followed.

There’s also a chance the two Canadian provinces could share player pools for peer-to-peer games such as online poker and daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the future.

Alberta's Attorney General has applied to intervene in a Supreme Court case currently before the court that will determine whether Ontario can pool its online poker and DFS players with those in other countries and provinces.

The outcome is crucial for Alberta, as its own iGaming legislation contains provisions similar to those allowing non-Canadian players to participate on Alberta-licensed sites.

Alberta Minister Dale Nally has confirmed the court case is not expected to affect the timing of the province's iGaming launch.