TLDR Alberta will launch a regulated online gambling market on July 13, becoming the second Canadian province after Ontario to allow private operators. Companies must pay a CAD 50,000 registration fee and CAD 150,000 annual fee to operate in the new market. The government will take a 20% cut of gross gaming revenue from all licensed operators. Alberta modeled its framework on Ontario, which generated CAD 4.04 billion in gross revenue last year. Unlicensed operators serving Alberta residents after the July launch will be permanently banned from the regulated market.
Alberta announced on April 1 that it will open a regulated online gambling market on July 13. The province will become only the second in Canada to allow private companies to operate legal online gambling platforms.
Until now, online gambling in Alberta was limited to Play Alberta, the province’s state-run platform. The new rules will end that monopoly and open the door to private operators under a provincial licensing system.
The move follows in the footsteps of Ontario, which launched its own regulated iGaming market in April 2022. Alberta officials said the goal is to shift online gambling activity away from unregulated offshore platforms and into a locally monitored system.
Licensing Fees Set a High Bar for Entry
The licensing process is being managed by Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. Companies that want to be part of the July launch must submit applications well ahead of the deadline.
Operators will need to pay a CAD 50,000 registration fee upfront. After that, they face an annual operational fee of CAD 150,000.
Digital platform providers will be charged CAD 15,000 per year. Secondary suppliers must pay CAD 3,000 annually to stay compliant.
Analysts see the fee structure as a filter designed to keep out smaller or underfunded companies.