A bill to make Alberta another iGaming Canadian province isn’t losing speed
Alberta is one step closer to opening its doors to legalized online gambling. Lawmakers recently moved Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, through its second reading, signaling growing support for regulated digital gaming in the province.
The legislation, introduced in March 2025 by Dale Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, proposes a major shift in how the province approaches online gambling. Currently, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) oversees the province’s sole online platform, PlayAlberta. If Bill 48 is approved, it would allow private operators to apply for licenses, expanding the market beyond a single platform.
Inspired by the success of Ontario’s regulated online gaming system—where residents wagered over CA$63 billion (US$45 billion) last fiscal year—Alberta aims to replicate that model. Ontario’s legal iGaming industry generated CA$2.2 billion (US$1.60 billion) in just one year, and Alberta officials believe a similar approach could keep gambling revenue within the province while introducing better protections for consumers.
A key feature of Bill 48 is the creation of the Alberta iGaming Corporation, a new Crown agency that would oversee the licensing and regulation of digital gaming platforms. The bill also emphasizes the importance of player safeguards, including self-exclusion programs and tools to prevent underage access.
Minister Nally has stated that many Albertans are already gambling online, often using offshore sites that don’t contribute to the local economy or follow Canadian consumer protection standards. Legalization, he argues, would not only provide safer options but also ensure that revenue stays in Alberta.
The bill still faces further readings and potential amendments, particularly around how the regulatory and financial frameworks will be structured. If everything proceeds on schedule, Alberta could see its regulated iGaming market launch by the end of 2025.
