Alberta iGaming Market Launch Q1 2026?

Posted on: March 14, 2025, 01:12h. 

Last updated on: March 14, 2025, 01:14h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • CGA President and CEO Paul Burns makes comment at NEXT.io Summit
  • Industry source says to expect Alberta igaming legislation “soon”
  • Alberta launch won’t make Fall 2025 NFL season; maybe the Super Bowl

Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns said the new Alberta igaming market should be live a year from now.

Series of False Starts for Market

He made the comments this week at the NEXT.io Summit in New York, first reported by Covers.

Burns’ comments are consistent with comments from a senior industry source to Casino.org.

They’ve had a couple of false starts there,” the source said. “But that process is about to kick off. Stay tuned for the introduction of some legislation in Alberta soon. The folks in Alberta have been burned a few times on timing. It had been far too optimistic. They don’t want to commit to a timetable. They want to do it right, take all the steps.”

The igaming market will be similar to Ontario’s, which currently has 50 licensed operators and 84 websites on the private operator side, according to iGaming Ontario, led by brands like DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and theScore Bet. 

Over $3 Billion in Ontario Gaming Revenue

Government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has its Proline igaming platform. OLG has three lines of business – lottery (retail), land-based gaming (the crown corporation conducts and manages gaming at 30 casino gaming facilities and 37 charitable gaming centres) and digital gaming (iCasino, iLottery and iSports). 

OLG reports their own total gross online casino and sports betting revenue – in FY 2023-24 they reported $630 million, up from $561 in 2022-23.

The Ontario private market, not including OLG, saw $64 billion in total wagers in FY 2023-24 (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024), $2.4 billion in gaming revenue.

Alberta Launch Around Super Bowl

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ PlayNow sportsbetting and digital casino platform is the only legal platform players can go to now, along with a large grey market of illegal operators.

Said Brandon Aboultaif, spokesperson for Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction:

It is no secret Alberta has been working on an igaming strategy. We are currently working through the government’s decision-making process. Should there be legislation, briefings for industry and the media will be provided when the legislation is tabled in the Legislature. Unfortunately, a specific timeline cannot be provided at this time.”