GGPoker Secures Alberta iGaming Licence as Province Eyes Expanded Poker Liquidity

Thirty-nine iGaming operators have been licensed by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC), according to the AGLC site this morning (Aug. 17), the latest being GGPoker (Aug. 12).

GGPoker is owned by NSUS Group, an international iGaming company. The poker platform has been licensed and operating in Ontario’s regulated iGaming market since September 2022.

While GGPoker has secured a license in Alberta, it still must finalize an operating agreement with Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) before going live. As of this morning (Aug. 17), 28 iGaming sites are live in the province, including AGLC’s Play Alberta government-owned platform.

GGPoker Joins Alberta Market

Once live, online poker players in Alberta will be geofenced and can only play against other players in the province, as in Ontario. Online poker depends heavily on liquidity.

According to financial data released by iGaming Ontario, the poker vertical accounted for just 1% of handle in June.

In May, during a panel discussion at SBC Summit Canada in Toronto, Dan Keene, chief executive officer (CEO) of AiGC, said Alberta was actively working on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ontario to open liquidity between the two jurisdictions, meaning access to bigger tournaments and larger player pools.

Liquidity Remains Key Issue

Casino.org reached out to AiGC for an update on the MOU, but had yet to hear back.

In November 2025, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the province’s regulated iGaming market could legally participate in international pooled liquidity. That opened the door for Ontario residents to compete in peer-to-peer games, like poker and daily fantasy sports, against players outside Canada.

Provincial lottery corporations then challenged that court ruling, arguing that it could undermine the geographical limits traditionally attached to provincially managed gaming schemes, and the matter is heading to the Supreme Court of Canada this fall.

Ontario MOU Still Pending

“I think you’ll find our position is one which we’re supportive of international liquidity,” said Keene in May. “From a business and commercial perspective, it makes a lot of sense.”

In October 2024, NSUS Group closed a deal to acquire World Series of Poker from Caesars Entertainment Inc. for US$500 million.

GGPoker describes itself as the world’s biggest poker network, in terms of global traffic. PokerStars, owned by Flutter Entertainment, is its primary competitor.

BetMGM Adds Exclusive Slots

Also on the Alberta iGaming front, BetMGM announced it had secured exclusive first access rights to offer the popular Rakin’ Bacon! slots in the province. The operator, through its partnership with AGS, is now offering three titles from the franchise – Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao, Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes, and Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu.

“Rakin’ Bacon! has earned a passionate following among slot players, and AGS continues to build on that success with new features, mechanics, and ways to play,” said Rob Passerino, director of gaming at BetMGM. “These new titles give Alberta players even more variety within a franchise they already know and enjoy, while reinforcing our commitment to bringing sought-after games and exclusive experiences to players at BetMGM.”