Alberta iGaming Market Expands as Polymarket Geo-Blocks Province

Alberta’s regulated iGaming market now features 36 operators that have cleared the province’s dual-approval process. According to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) regulator, 22 of those platforms were officially live as of Friday, July 17, with the remainder poised to launch.

An AGLC spokesperson said they expect more sites to come online “in the coming weeks.”

In Alberta, before a site can go live, operators must secure a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation [AiGC] after registering with the AGLC and paying their fees.

The iGaming market officially launched on Monday, July 13, with leading brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and theScore Bet already accepting wagers.

“By the end of the summer, I think we’ll see 35 to 40 [live sites],” said Troy Ross, President of TRM Public Affairs.

Polymarket Blocks Alberta

While the new market was being rolled out this week, Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, updated industry stakeholders regarding Polymarket’s decision to restrict access to its platform within the province.

“Polymarket made the decision themselves to geo-fence themselves out. So, I think that was good news,” Nally said on Monday.

Nally was responding to a question about illegal gambling websites operating outside Alberta’s regulated market, after a reporter referenced Polymarket’s recent announcement.

“We know that we can’t shut down the internet, but the best way to deal with the black market is to have a healthy, regulated market,” Nally said.

Polymarket quietly updated its terms of use on July 6, adding British Columbia and Quebec to its list of restricted jurisdictions. Ontario is already restricted as a result of a 2025 settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), which found that the prediction market had illegally offered prohibited short-term binary options to retail investors in the province.

No New Precedent

That raises a crucial question: does the Polymarket decision set a precedent for how prediction markets will approach Canadian provinces with regulated iGaming markets?

“B.C. and Quebec do not appear close to regulation; that still seems years away,” said Amanda Brewer, Senior Vice President of Policy & Communications for the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA). “Given that Polymarket was fined and banned in Ontario, it is likely being cautious across Canada.”

In comments made to Casino.org, Evan Thomas, a Toronto-based lawyer advising fintech clients, noted that the Polymarket geo-blocking decision was not a surprise.

“Whether that reflects behind-the-scenes discussions with securities regulators, gaming regulators, or both, I can’t say, but it would not surprise me if there were a formal settlement or regulatory statement at a later date,” Thomas said. He added that the decision doesn’t set a new precedent, but instead reinforces an emerging pattern.

Regulators Eye Prediction Markets

“Unregistered prediction market platforms face regulatory risk in Canadian provinces, whether under securities law or gaming law,” Thomas continued.

“The regulated path for prediction markets in Canada is through Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization [CIRO] dealers like Wealthsimple for economic and financial event contracts, or potentially through provincially licensed iGaming operators for other categories.”

“Platforms that operate outside those frameworks are going to face increasing pressure to geo-block Canadian users,” he added.

Welcome News In Alberta

Canadian jurisdictions are entering a new phase of online gaming regulation, led by Ontario and Alberta, with several other provinces exploring how to follow suit. According to Troy Ross, the news of the block was certainly welcomed by iGaming operators in Alberta’s newly regulated space.

“I think those provincial online gaming regulators and the provincial securities regulators will very quickly turn their attention to prediction markets, because U.S. media bombard us,” Ross explained.

“There are all kinds of coverage, and while prediction market companies themselves may not believe that they are gambling companies—and maybe they have a legitimate claim to that in the United States—this is a different country, different criminal code, different gaming control acts. The definition of gambling here doesn’t exactly dovetail with the U.S. definition.”

Based on that, Ross suggested Polymarket’s decision was a prudent one.

“The prediction markets, if they’re taking steps to block Alberta and Ontario, that’s a wise move because Canada has a complex regulatory environment involving provincial gambling regulators, securities regulators, derivatives legislation, the federal Criminal Code, and responsible gambling standards,” he said. “They would be foolish not to consider these multiple regulatory hurdles before simply launching in Canada.”