Alberta iGaming: How the New Market Works

This page explains how Alberta’s market works: the timeline from bill to launch, who does what, how many sites are really live, where the money goes, and what has and has not been published yet. For the short legal answer, see Is online gambling legal in Alberta?.

From Bill 48 to launch: the timeline

Every step below links to the Legislative Assembly, the Government of Alberta, AGLC or AiGC.

The full milestone list is kept on our Alberta iGaming launch tracker.

Who does what: AGLC vs AiGC

A lot of coverage mixes these two up. The official split is clear, and AGLC itself warns readers to “be aware of the difference between AGLC and AiGC” (AGLC).

Sources: AGLC iGaming, AiGC FAQs, Government of Alberta.

Getting in takes two steps. An operator first registers with AGLC, then signs a commercial agreement with AiGC (AGLC). Since July 13, every operator needs both (AGLC). According to AiGC, operators also need at least three years of history in a regulated North American market and must pass a financial audit. Before signing, they must hold RG Check accreditation and connect to AGLC’s centralized self-exclusion system (AiGC FAQs).

Advertising is split too. AGLC regulates what gambling ads say, but it does not control how often they run. AGLC points complaints about ad volume or placement to the CRTC. You can send AGLC a concern about the content of a specific ad (AGLC).

Where PlayAlberta fits

Before July 13, 2026, PlayAlberta was the province’s only legal online gambling site. It is run by NeoPollard Interactive under the direction and management of AGLC (Government of Alberta, Jan 14, 2026). In January 2026 the government reported $275 million in PlayAlberta net sales “for the past year”, up $35 million from 2024-25; the release does not name the exact period. It also estimated that PlayAlberta had only about 23–32% of the total market (same source).

PlayAlberta has not closed. AiGC says it “will continue to operate as the province’s own government-run platform, competing alongside regulated private operators” (AiGC FAQs). AiGC itself will not launch a casino site of its own (AiGC FAQs).

If a page still says PlayAlberta is Alberta’s only legal site, it was written before July 13, 2026.

How many sites and operators: the numbers

These counts come from our Alberta registered operators tracker, which is built from AGLC’s registrant CSV and AiGC’s directory.

The last two rows are our own matching, not an official figure. AiGC’s directory does not say which company runs each site. We attach a site to a registrant only when the registrant’s name contains the brand, or when iGaming Ontario’s directory shows the same company running that brand. Three listed sites could not be matched this way: Bet365 Casino, Golden Nugget Casino and Vegas Club Casino. Play Alberta (the government site) is one of the 40 registrants but is not counted in either matching row. The 16 unmatched private registrants include GNOG CAN Ltd. and Hillside (International Gaming) ENC, which are likely the operators behind Golden Nugget Casino and Bet365 Casino, so the number of registrants with no live site is probably lower than 16.

We update these counts whenever either list changes; see What changed recently below.

Registered is not the same as live: the Stake example

Stake Canada Ltd. appears in AGLC’s registrant list with the class “iGaming - Operator” and an expiry date of September 24, 2027. That is the latest expiry of any iGaming operator on the list. Most entries on the list (30 of the 42 iGaming operator rows) expire on July 13, 2027 (AGLC registrants CSV). AGLC does not publish registration dates.

On September 30, 2026, AiGC’s directory of 34 registered sites had no Stake site (AiGC). AGLC registration alone is not enough: an operator also needs a commercial agreement with AiGC, and only sites in AiGC’s directory are approved (AGLC). No official source explains Stake’s status.

So an AGLC registration on its own does not mean a brand is open to players in Alberta. Check AiGC’s directory, not the registrant list.

Where the money goes (and the “tax rate” question)

Alberta has not published an iGaming “tax rate” the way Ontario or US states set a percentage tax. The official model is a revenue split (Alberta’s iGaming Strategy):

Sources: Alberta’s iGaming Strategy, Government of Alberta launch release, AiGC launch release.

Why Alberta did this: the government estimated that about 70% of online gambling in Alberta took place on unregulated sites before launch (Government of Alberta). AiGC’s stated goal for its first two years is to “recapture 75% of the current market” by moving players to regulated sites (AiGC Operators).

Revenue figures: not published yet

As of September 30, 2026, AiGC’s Reports page carries only quarterly executive expense disclosures and a 2025 compensation disclosure. It has no market revenue, handle or player figures. AiGC says that, as a Crown corporation, it “will publish quarterly market performance reports” (AiGC FAQs), but it has not said when the first one will appear.

Until it does, treat any Alberta revenue number that isn’t linked to AiGC or the government as an estimate.

What it means for players

• You must be 18 or older to register, deposit and play on a regulated site (AiGC FAQs).
• You must be physically in Alberta to log in or place bets (AiGC FAQs).
• Check for the marks. AiGC says regulated sites show the AiGC logo and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) seal (AiGC FAQs).
• Player funds must be held in Canadian trust accounts, kept separate from the operator’s own money (AiGC FAQs).
• No crypto, no auto-play. Approved operators may not accept cryptocurrency, and auto-play on slots is banned (AiGC FAQs).
• Tools you get: financial and time limits, gaming activity statements, and one self-exclusion program covering “all regulated online platforms, casinos and racing entertainment centres” (Government of Alberta). AiGC says you can set limits on deposits, losses and session time (AiGC FAQs).
• Disputes: if an operator can’t fix a problem within 72 hours, you can ask AiGC for an independent review (AiGC FAQs).
• Taxes: AiGC says the CRA does not tax recreational gambling winnings (AiGC FAQs).

Unregulated sites (not in AiGC’s directory and not PlayAlberta) fall outside these protections, including AGLC’s centralized self-exclusion program.

Practical next steps

1. Check any site before you sign up. Use AiGC’s Registered iGaming Sites directory or our Alberta lookup. The government-run option is playalberta.ca (AGLC).
2. Set limits first, in the “Responsible Gaming” or “Account Settings” area of your account (AiGC FAQs).
3. Need a break? AGLC’s centralized Self-Exclusion Program lets you exclude yourself from all registered iGaming sites, from land-based casinos and racing entertainment centres, or from both (AGLC). Enrol at selfexclusion.ca.
4. Talk to someone. See below.

Where to get help in Alberta

• 211 Alberta: free, confidential, 24/7, in several languages. Call 211, text INFO to 211, or use online chat. It can connect you to addiction services and counselling (AiGC Get Help).
• GameSense Info Line: 1-833-447-7523; GameSense invites calls “with any questions” (GameSense).
• Other support listed by AiGC: Alberta Gamblers Anonymous, Gam-Anon for families, an orderly payment of debts program, and the Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous people, available 24/7 (AiGC Get Help).

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

What changed recently

• July 13, 2026: the regulated market opened with 22 sites (Government of Alberta).
• By September 30, 2026: AiGC’s directory had grown to 34 sites, and AGLC listed 40 iGaming operator registrants (Play Alberta and Stake Canada Ltd. among them). We matched 23 registrants to at least one listed site (AiGC, AGLC).
• Still pending: AiGC’s first quarterly market performance report (AiGC Reports).

This page explains Alberta’s rules in general terms and is not legal advice. It does not recommend any gambling site. Last reviewed September 30, 2026, against the official sources listed below.