Alberta Passes iGaming Bill, Paving Way for Regulated Market Launch by 2026
The bill, introduced by Service Alberta Minister Dave Nally, now awaits formal approval from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani—a step that is widely expected to proceed without delay.
Lawmakers in Alberta have passed the iGaming Act at its third reading without amendments, bringing the province one step closer to launching a fully regulated online gambling market. The bill, introduced by Service Alberta Minister Dave Nally, now awaits formal approval from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani—a step that is widely expected to proceed without delay.
“This is about bringing order to a growing market, collecting revenue, and giving Albertans a safer, more responsible way to play,” said Nally of his proposal.
At present, Alberta’s legal sports betting market is limited to a single platform, PlayAlberta. Bill 48 aims to change that by establishing the Alberta iGaming Corporation, a new regulatory body that will license and oversee private gambling operators, with a market launch anticipated in early 2026.
The move mirrors the regulatory shift seen in Ontario, which opened its iGaming market in 2022. Since then, 49 licensed operators have launched a total of 84 gaming websites under the oversight of iGaming Ontario (iGO), generating over CAD $2.4 billion in gross gaming revenue and contributing CAD $490 million in tax revenue.
Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson has confirmed that FanDuel intends to enter Alberta’s market next year, joining other leading operators expected to follow suit.
The Canadian Gaming Association welcomed the development, noting:
“Ontario’s model has proven that a regulated iGaming market can be competitive, profitable, and safe.”
With Alberta expected to adopt a similar tax rate of 20%, early estimates suggest annual tax revenues could reach between $50 million and $100 million once the market is fully operational.
