Alberta's iGaming grace period ends with 51 regulated sites now live
The province's 90-day transition window for unregulated operators has closed, with 30 companies launching approved platforms.
Alberta's 90-day grace period for unregulated online gambling operators to transition into the legal market ended on October 13. The Alberta iGaming Corporation reported that 30 operators have launched regulated platforms, bringing the total number of approved live iGaming sites in the province to 51. An AiGC spokesperson said that number could still change before the end of the day. The commercial market, which is distinct from the provincial Play Alberta site, officially launched on July 13.
Operators that failed to transition or are still awaiting final authorization are now required to shut down their operations in Alberta. To operate legally, companies must obtain approval from both Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis and the AiGC. "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."
Several major companies operate multiple brands under single corporate umbrellas. Apollo Entertainment, for instance, runs seven casino brands in the province. Other operators, such as PointsBet, have registered with the AGLC but have yet to finalize commercial agreements with the AiGC, delaying their market entry. The list of licensed sites includes major brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, as well as sites such as SpinGenie, Jackpot City, and Casino Classic.
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The online poker landscape in Alberta has shifted significantly. The platform 888 will become the first to offer regulated online poker in the province as its site goes live. Conversely, PokerStars is among the notable platforms exiting the market, at least temporarily. NSUS’s GGPoker.ca, which is licensed in Ontario, has no current plans to launch online poker in Alberta. A case awaiting a ruling in the Supreme Court of Canada could make player pooling between provinces legal, which would make operating in Alberta more attractive to online poker sites.
Provincial authorities have stated their intent to penalize operators that attempt to remain in the unregulated space, though specific enforcement tactics have not been disclosed. "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." Regulators may look to Ontario's approach for guidance. In May, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario levied $40,000 fines against each of two registered gaming suppliers after discovering their products appeared on unregulated sites accessible to Ontario players. The AiGC is advising gamblers to look for its logo to distinguish legal gaming sites from those operating without regulation and protections. The Alberta government previously estimated that about 70 percent of iGaming took place with operators not regulated in the province.