Alberta's iGaming grace period ends with 51 regulated sites now live
Operators that failed to transition must shut down as regulators prepare enforcement action against the grey market.
Alberta's 90-day grace period for unregulated online gambling operators to transition to the legal market expired on Oct. 13, with 30 operators launching regulated platforms and accepting wagers.
In total, 51 approved iGaming sites are currently live in Alberta. An Alberta iGaming Corporation spokesperson said that number could change by the end of the day.
"Alberta's regulated iGaming market exists to protect Albertans," said Dan Keene, AiGC CEO. "We look forward to working with operators who have chosen accountability by transitioning away from the illegal grey market."
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Operators that failed to transition or are still awaiting final authorization are required to shut down operations in the province.
Provincial authorities intend to penalize operators attempting to remain in the unregulated space, though specific enforcement tactics remain undisclosed.
"AGLC has several investigative options available when considering what action to take against illegal and predatory gambling websites," said AGLC spokesperson Lynden McBeth. "In order to protect the integrity of any investigation, we are unable to discuss operational techniques or methods publicly."
Approval process and market changes
To legally operate in Alberta, companies must obtain approval from both Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis and the Alberta iGaming Corporation.
Several major companies maintain multiple brands under single corporate umbrellas. Apollo Entertainment, for instance, runs seven casino brands in the province, while Super Group manages several.
Meanwhile, operators such as PointsBet have registered with AGLC but have yet to execute final commercial agreements with AiGC, delaying their live debuts.
PokerStars is among the notable platforms exiting the market, at least temporarily.
Conversely, 888 will become the first platform to offer regulated online poker in the province as its site goes live, according to Poker Industry Pro.
NSUS' GGPoker.ca, while licensed and operating in Ontario, has no interest in launching online poker in Alberta at this point.
The commercial platforms operating in the newly open market remain distinct from Play Alberta, the province's state-run gambling site.
The commercial market officially launched July 13, with Alberta offering a case-by-case, 90-day grace period for legacy grey-market operators demonstrating a clear path toward regulatory compliance.
Alberta joined Ontario as the only Canadian provinces with competitive, privately operated iGaming markets.
The Alberta government previously estimated that about 70% of iGaming took place with operators not regulated in the province, though they may be regulated elsewhere.
"Online gambling is here," Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said last year. "What we're trying to do is we're trying to make it safer."
Regulators may look to Ontario as a playbook for targeting non-compliant operators.
In May, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario levied CA$40,000 fines against two registered gaming suppliers after discovering their games were accessible on unregulated sites operating in the province.
The list of licensed sites includes such household names in the U.S. as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, as well as sites not regulated anywhere in the U.S. such as SpinGenie, Jackpot City, and Casino Classic.
The AiGC is advising gamblers to look for its logo to distinguish legal gaming sites from those operating without regulation and protections.