Alberta Takes Major Step Toward Regulated iGaming Market with the iGaming Alberta Act

This newly introduced legislation would establish the legal framework for Alberta to oversee a competitive market for licensed private iGaming and sports wagering operators.

Key highlights from the bill:

• Establishes the Alberta iGaming Corporation
• Designates Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis as the iGaming regulator
• Updates existing gaming laws and definitions to enable provincial oversight
• Empowers the Ministry to develop regulations related to responsible gaming, integrity monitoring, internal controls, tax rates, and fees—without requiring further legislative approval, though Cabinet sign-off would be required

Minister Dale Nally expressed confidence that the Act will pass this summer, with Cabinet reviewing the Ministry’s proposed regulations by the fall. He emphasized a target launch date of early 2026 and made it clear that simply adopting the Ontario model was not acceptable to his Cabinet. Instead, Alberta is pursuing a more customized, formal approach. That said, the Minister was very clear in his desire to work collaboratively with industry, stating that he “wants to remove roadblocks, not create new ones.”