What to Expect from Alberta Online Gambling Regulation on July 13th

Q: Can I use offshore sportsbooks after July 13?

Only licensed sports betting sites will be legal in Alberta after July 13th, although the regulator might make some exceptions, allowing sites another three months to get their license. After the cutoff, offshore sportsbooks licensed outside of Alberta will no longer be legal, so you’ll need to sign up at a licensed site.

Q: What is the legal betting age in Alberta?

The legal in-person and online betting age in Alberta is 18, which is a year lower than in some other Canadian provinces, where it’s 19. Identity checks will be in place at licensed Alberta online casino sites, so you won’t be able to play if you’re underaged and minors will be protected.

Q: Will betting odds be better than PlayAlberta?

The odds will depend on the specific sportsbook site where you’re betting, as well as the particular market. There’s no guarantee that any one site will be better than another, so it’s a good idea to sign up at a few and see which one has better odds when you’re ready to place the bet.

Q: Why was the launch delayed from May?

Minister Dale Nally stated the planned launch of regulated online casinos was delayed at the request of the operators. Nally said the province was ready to launch earlier, but after discussions within the industry, they decided that July was the sweet spot, when everyone will be ready.

By Farah Barry

Jun 4th, 2026 8:48 AM EDT

Fact Checked By Adam Kenny

TL;DR - Alberta Gambling Regulation Updates

Bill 48 will regulate online casino gambling in Alberta
Only sites holding a valid license will be able to operate in Alberta
Responsible gambling and player protection will take on a bigger focus
Pre-registration is available for new players in Alberta now

Alberta is set to regulate online casino gambling on July 13th, with the introduction of Bill 48. This means that casino sites need to apply for a specific license from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). Online gambling in the province will become safer, as there will be a bigger focus on responsible gambling and player protection.

We’re going to tell you exactly what you can expect on July 13th, when the new Alberta gambling regulations come into play, including exactly what will change for you and how the new rules compare with what you’re used to.

Alberta Online Gambling Regulation Snapshot

While things might change a little as we move closer to July 13th and Bill 48’s enaction, we have a pretty good idea of what you can expect already. While more Alberta online casinos and game providers are projected to apply for licenses, the AGLC states that there are already 35 casinos and sports betting sites looking to get a license in Alberta.

We’ll be sure to keep this page updated, so that you can come back and find out the latest news about Alberta gambling regulations.

Launch Date	July 13th (with a three-month extension on a case-by-case basis)
Regulator	Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC)
Market Operator	Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC)
Number of Operators	35 operators have applied for licenses
Types of Betting	Sports and Casino

Why is Alberta Regulating Now?

Gray market online gambling (playing at sites with licenses in other jurisdictions like Malta and Curacao) is already available in Alberta, and according to government reports, it’s estimated that about 70% of online gambling takes place at these sites rather than the regulated Play Alberta platform.

The aim behind fully regulating online casino gambling in the state is to improve player protection. The new regulatory framework allows player safety to come to the forefront by establishing stronger responsible gambling protocols, plus the additional tax revenue will go back to the government where it can contribute towards services in the province, which in turn will benefit all residents.

How Will Regulating Online Gambling Affect Players in Alberta?

The main impact that the new online gambling regulations under Bill 48 will have is that the range of online casinos available to you will change. It’s likely that current gray market sites, which accept players in all of Canada (excluding Ontario), will cease operations in Alberta when the deadline of July 13th rolls around.

This means that you may no longer be able to play at certain casino sites. With 35 operators having already applied for a license, however, you won’t be limited in terms of choice. The regulated casinos will have strong responsible gambling tools, including the province-wide self-exclusion program.

What Does the Alberta Launch Mean for Operators?

The changes for the online casino operators are bigger than for customers, but most of them are positive. Online casino operators with a license will be able to specifically advertise to players in Alberta, and they’ll have increased trust within the industry and among players. As player protection will be such a strong feature of regulated Alberta gambling sites, casinos will have a real opportunity to be seen as legit and as a safe place to play.

Although some operators might see the need for a license and the costs associated with licensing as enough of a downside to leave the province entirely, all of the major casinos are on board and already applying for licenses.

How Alberta’s New iGaming Framework Works

At the moment, regulated online gambling is available via PlayAlberta, but until now, other online casinos could not apply for a specific license in the province. This is similar to the status in the majority of other Canadian provinces, where you can use gray market sites to gamble online. The major exception here is Ontario, where online gambling was regulated in April 2022.

The new Alberta gambling regulations allow private online casino providers to become licensed in the province in a way that keeps players protected. The aim is to reduce the 70% of online gambling that currently takes place at gray market sites, so that players in Alberta have better protection. Some of the key features of Alberta’s regulation include centralized self-exclusion, First Nations revenue sharing and stricter conditions for entering the market.

One key thing Alberta is doing differently to Ontario is player protection. While Alberta’s province-wide self-exclusion tool is already available, Ontario only launched their equivalent, called BetGuard, in 2026.

Oliver Lines Online Gambling Expert

Licensing, Fees and Tax Structure

The good news for you as a player is that you won’t pay tax on online gambling winnings. But things are very different for operators. The annual registration fee is set at $150,000, plus a one-off application fee of $50,000. Platform providers and game providers pay a $15,000 registration fee, while for e-wallets, testing facilities and others it’s lower, at $3,000.

Rather than applying a specific corporate gambling tax, the Alberta Government will allocate 80% of net iGaming revenue to the operators and 20% will be retained for the government. This 20% can then be allocated to areas like social responsibility funding and First Nations funding.

Rules for Operators

To continue to operate in Alberta, online casinos must submit their forms and fees to the AGLC by 13th July.

The first step in the process of becoming a licensed operator involves registering with the AGLC. The casino’s technology then needs to be certified by an accredited testing facility (for example, to ensure that the games are fair) and proof that the site is integrating the self-exclusion program. All of the documents, compliance guides, forms and fees are available on the AGLC website.

Next, online casinos need to work with the Alberta iGaming Corporation, to complete a commercial agreement. The AiGC is responsible for public complaints, financial reporting and anti-money laundering.

The Government of Alberta has defined a few key goals behind the decision to regulate online casino gambling.

The first is to establish safeguards for players and to increase social responsibility measures. One key example here is the self-exclusion program, which all regulated online casinos need to integrate into their responsible gambling tools.

The government also plans to create strict rules for advertising, with the aim of ensuring that the marketing of online casinos isn’t targeted at vulnerable people. Finally, the government will allocate 80% of gambling revenue to the operators, while the other 20% stays in the province to improve services.

What Alberta Bettors Can Expect on Day One?

We can already tell you that some online casinos are accepting pre-registrations, so you can get started before the Alberta gambling regulations even come into effect. It’s likely that more casinos will start to accept pre-registrations as we move closer to the deadline.

It’s likely that a few online casinos will simply pull out of Alberta when the regulation happens, but just because a site doesn't have its license in time, doesn’t mean it is gone forever. The regulator will consider a three-month grace period (up to October 13th) to allow a casino to get ready for licensing.

On the actual day when the regulations come into play, you can expect a wide variety of different online casinos at your fingertips. With 35 operators having already applied for licenses (including the likes of bet365, DraftKings and Caesars), you’ll be able to choose from tons of gambling sites, with lots of casino games and Alberta sports betting options.

Responsible gambling will also get a whole lot more focus. For example, all regulated Alberta online casinos will need to be part of the self-exclusion program, which will allow you to completely block access to all Alberta casino sites for a defined period of time ranging from six months to three years.

Alberta Online Gambling FAQS

Is online gambling legal in Alberta now?

Online gambling is currently legal in Alberta at the regulated PlayAlberta casino platform. Players in Alberta can also currently use gray market sites that are regulated in other regions like Malta and Curacao. As of July 13th, only regulated sites that hold a valid Alberta license will be legal in the province.

Can I use offshore sportsbooks after July 13?

What is the legal betting age in Alberta?

Will betting odds be better than PlayAlberta?

Why was the launch delayed from May?

About the Author

Farah Barry

More About Farah

Farah is an online casino expert, having worked in the customer retention and marketing comms department at Betway in the UK, before becoming a professional online casino content writer. Farah’s areas of expertise include slot reviews, casino reviews, bonuses and sweepstakes casinos. When she\\\'s not writing about all of the latest casino and slot releases, you\\\'ll find her planning her next trip to Las Vegas.