New Alberta iGaming Legislation Clears Another Hurdle

Posted on: April 20, 2025, 12:00h. 

Last updated on: April 20, 2025, 12:02h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • Bill 48 heads for debate in legislative committee
  • Alberta iGaming Corporation would oversee Ontario-like igaming model
  • Predictions of early 2026 market launch

Bill 48, Alberta’s new igaming legislation, has taken another step forward, this week passing second reading in the provincial Legislative Assembly.

Ontario-Style Gaming Market

Next up is for the legislation to be debated in a committee of all Members of the Legislative Assembly to meet, discuss, and debate clauses in the bill. Amendments to the bill will be considered.

Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, told Casino.org, the CGA is “anxious” to work with the Alberta government at this stage of the process. 

The United Conservative Party under Premier Danielle Smith holds a majority in the legislature assembly – 47 seats, with the NDP the official opposition with 36 seats (other parties hold two seats with another two seats vacant).

New Regulatory Framework

It’s got a committee process and they expect it to pass before the spring session legislature finishes [no later than the first Thursday in June],” Burns said. “So, expected timing is in the coming weeks. They’re going to start to talk about some broader consultation, and then obviously they get to work, starting to establish the agency. It’s moving at its pace, so we’ll see how that goes. But they’ve set the structure, they set the direction, so now everyone gets to work and we’re looking forward to working with them on that.”

Bill 48: iGaming Alberta Act sets the regulatory framework for an Ontario-style, private, open, competitive igaming market in the province, with operators like PointsBet, theScore BET, NorthStar, FanDuel, DraftKings and others all lined up to jump in take on the government’s Play Alberta igaming platform, which holds a monopoly.

Bill 48 would create the Alberta iGaming Corporation to oversee regulated online gambling operations in the province, prioritizing consumer protection and responsible play.

Targeting Grey Market

The corporation will be governed by a board of up to seven directors appointed by the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction (Dale Nally).

The objective is to shift people away from unregulated operators, or the grey market, into more of a transparent framework.

“My sense is the government will pass this bill in mid-May, which is good, but realistically, there is still much to do,” said a senior industry source. “One of the key lessons learned from the Ontario experience is there are things that can and should be automated – AML (anti-money laundering) for instance.  Introducing a centralized self-exclusion program before launch is another. I don’t think anyone predicted iGaming Ontario would have 100 plus employees when they celebrated their third anniversary. Building an efficient, lean conductor, and manager will be a priority for Alberta.

End of Q1 or Q2 2026 Launch?

“I think the position the Alberta government will take is, one, we are going to regulate, two, we are taking all of the responsible steps to move toward that goal, three, I think we will start to hear messaging from them, suggesting they are focused on getting it right, as opposed to getting it done fast.  

Lots of people continue to speculate that the market could launch by the end of this calendar year.  I think that is very optimistic.  End of Q1 or Q2 next year seems more realistic.”