Alberta officially launched its regulated commercial iGaming market, ending the province’s single-operator model and allowing licensed private sportsbooks and online casinos to begin operating under provincial regulation.

The Alberta government formally confirmed the 13 July 2026 launch date, stating that licensed private operators would be able to offer online sportsbooks and casino games under the new regulatory framework.

Alberta announced that its regulated online gambling market would officially launch on 13 July 2026, making it the second Canadian province after Ontario to license private sportsbooks and online casinos.

The Alberta government published its official iGaming Strategy, outlining plans to transition grey-market operators into a regulated market and confirming work on consumer protections, responsible gambling measures and operator licensing.

Industry guidance on the new legislation confirmed that Alberta had begun work on regulations, licensing standards and the transition from a single-operator model (Play Alberta) to a competitive market. No launch date was announced at the time.

Bill 48 received Royal Assent, officially becoming the iGaming Alberta Act. The Act established the legal framework for the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will oversee commercial operators while the AGLC remains the regulator.

Alberta’s Bill 48 (iGaming Alberta Act) passed its third reading in the Legislative Assembly, clearing its final vote before becoming law. The legislation paved the way for a regulated online gambling market with private operators.

Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, took another step forward this week, passing its second reading at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton. It now heads to the Committee of the Whole, where each part of the bill will be reviewed in detail.

The resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and proroguing of Parliament halted Bill S-269, which aimed to regulate sports betting ads nationally. The bill must be reintroduced in the next session to proceed.

Ontario introduced stricter online gambling rules, including licensing requirements, self-exclusion programs, deposit limits, and anti-money laundering measures to ensure safer gambling practices.

Bill 16 is passed by Alberta’s lawmakers paving the way for the provincial government to create a separate entity to “conduct and manage” online gambling. That’s because the amendments state that Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission is not the only entity that can do so.

Alberta tables Bill 16, titled the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act suggesting amendments to Alberta’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act that could help legalize private sportsbooks, in turn, expanding iGaming in Alberta.

In an effort to protect children, Ontario bans sports betting ads featuring current or retired athletes, celebrities and social media influencers.

Betano withdraws from unregulated markets in Canada. This means it will only be available for Ontarians, while users from  provinces such as Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia, etc., will have to look at alternatives like bet365

In 2024, Unibet will no longer be available to Ontarians. By the end of the second quarter of 2024, Kindred Group, which owns the brand Unibet, will be pulling out of Canada.

bet365 starts offering horse race betting in Ontario once more, thanks to the brand’s partnership with Woodbine Entertainment.

This is the first time horse racing bets are legal online in private operators in Canada.