Alberta to Launch Regulated iGaming Market Following Ontario Model

Alberta is following in the footsteps of Ontario by legalizing online gambling at a commercial level. This is according to Dale Nally, Alberta’s minister of service and red tape reduction.

While speaking at the Canadian Gaming Summit in June, Nally said Alberta has been observing Ontario’s online gaming industry since its launch in 2022. And it plans to introduce a similar gambling market soon.

“Let me tell you a little bit about what our gaming site is going to look like. It is going to be very similar to Ontario because we’re following their model,” Nally said. 

Alberta has one gambling website regulated by the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). Despite that, offshore casinos are popular in the province.

Alberta promises to create a free and fair online gambling market to rival Ontario. Here are all the details we know about this new development:

AGLC Will Not Regulate New Casinos

AGLC is the official gambling, liquor, and cannabis regulator in Alberta. It also runs PlayAlberta, the only gambling website in the province. According to Nally, AGLC won’t have the authority to regulate new casinos once the province introduces new licenses.

Nally clarified the information after a group of potential investors said they were concerned about the possibility of sharing data with a competitor. Considering the province is copying Ontario’s gaming model, it could do what Ontario already does.

Ontario gave the Alcohol and Gaming Commission a small role in regulating online gambling websites. However, issues about data collection and gaming operations were delegated to iGaming Ontario.

The regulated gambling market in Ontario runs smoothly under the authority of iGaming Ontario. It has licensed more than 50 operators, including famous European brands like Leo Vegas, 888Casino, and Royal Panda. 

 Although AGLC will not license new sportsbooks and casinos, it will stay around. The regulator has a preexisting relationship with First Nation Casinos. It will probably continue to work with these casinos while a new regulator will handle new casinos.

No Clear Date About the New Market’s Launch

Alberta has not yet stated when the new gambling market will become a law. However, lawmakers have already approved the bill required to introduce commercial gambling.

Alberta’s premier and Nally are working hard to introduce private casinos in Alberta. Earlier this year, the premier sent Nally to the ICE International Gaming Conference in London to discuss the future of iGaming in Canada. Nally was accompanied by Doug Downey, Ontario’s Attorney General. 

Nally says his office is consulting with all the stakeholders involved to push the bill forward. But since the bill is still in its early stages, it could take up to a year before the first commercial online gambling website arrives in Alberta. Before then, overseas casinos will continue to flood the Albertan iGaming market. 

A Great Way to Boost Revenue Generation in Alberta

One of Nally and Smith’s biggest focus points while holding gambling-related discussions is to identify ways Alberta can gain financially. Nally has emphasized that Alberta will copy everything good happening in Ontario.

He’s been holding discussions with gambling authorities in the province for weeks. Ontario generated $2.7 billion from the iGaming industry last year, a 70% rise compared to 2022.

Ontario has a much bigger population than Alberta: 14.5 million against 4.3 million. Ontario has a 20% iGaming tax, meaning it walked away with $790 million in tax income.

Ontario uses its gambling revenues to boost education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Alberta needs more revenue sources according to Smith. By regulating gambling, the Energy Province could lower its reliance on oil and gas moving forward.

Taking Advantage of a Fast-Growing Industry

Research firm Statista says online gambling is growing at a 10% rate. The sector could be worth $130 billion by 2029. The industry is skyrocketing in Canada thanks to recent legalization efforts in Ontario.

In Alberta, more than 500,000 people say they bet regularly. Most of the polled demographic use offshore online casinos. By regulating the market, Alberta will hope its citizens embraces legal casinos to support the local economy.

Online gambling’s rapid growth means it has plenty of untapped opportunities. For the government of Alberta, regulation could mean more revenues in its coffers. For players, this is a chance to have fun without breaking the law.

Enhancing Safety and Protection for Players

Regulation is one of the best ways to create a safe gambling market. Albertans will no longer have to risk their data and money by using black market casinos. They can play at safe and regulated online casinos within Canada.

The regulation mandates casinos and sportsbooks to secure their websites. They encrypt your data and use tools that keep hackers away. A genuine license also helps players differentiate safe from unsafe operators.

Besides website security, regulation ensures casinos have tools to help fight gambling addiction. In Ontario, every casino is required to monitor its customers. Operators also need to provide players with tools that can help limit deposits, betting amounts, and time spent gambling. 

 Another reason to introduce private gambling companies is that they will make the industry competitive. Competition improves the quality of services offered. The only reason Albertans use offshore casinos is because they don’t have a better alternative locally.

If players had a pool of 50% sportsbooks and casinos in Alberta, they would have no reason to use unregulated black market websites. 

Jobs Opportunities for Albertans

We’ll admit. Online gambling businesses don’t employ as many people as land-based casinos. In Ontario, online casinos and sportsbooks employ 2000 people. 

However, the industry helps up to 15,000 people sustain themselves through indirect jobs in banking web design, software development, and digital security. Alberta will hope that a regulated gambling market could add job opportunities even if it is just a couple of thousand positions.

Alberta is a hot spot for highly skilled people in marketing, account, and tech niches, the exact kind of positions online casinos require. Online gambling businesses have huge salaries according to research firms. As such, even if iGaming only adds a few thousand jobs, it will be a prime employment opportunity.

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