Alberta’s gambling regulator has appointed a new chair of the board.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) announced on July 24 that Larry Spagnolo will take up the role of board chair effective Aug. 15, 2025. The Alberta government issued an official Order in Council for the change.
The AGLC said in a statement that Spagnolo’s appointment marks a new chapter in its ongoing commitment to support communities, encourage responsible choices and position Alberta as the best place to do business.
Spagnolo currently serves as vice president and general manager of Emerson’s SaaS SCADA business and vice chair of Athabasca University’s board of governors. He previously held senior roles at Zedi and Telus and also served on the board of NAIT and Polytechnics Canada.
The AGLC said this experience in technology and business leadership, driving innovation, growth and global success will play an integral role in guiding AGLC’s strategic direction.
He will replace Len Rhodes, who has been chair of the AGLC board since August 2019. Rhodes did not seek a third term.
AGLC prepares for new era of gambling
While the AGLC’s remit spreads far beyond just gambling, Spagnolo will inherit the board chair position at a seminal time for gaming in Alberta.
Minister Dale Nally’s Bill 48 to authorize private-sector online gambling in the province passed the legislature in early May and received Royal Assent soon afterwards. The iGaming Alberta Act mandates that the province set up an Alberta iGaming corporation to conduct and manage a new commercial online gambling market.
Nally has estimated that the market will open in the first quarter of 2026.
When it does, AGLC’s Play Alberta platform will no longer be the sole approved and regulated iGaming platform in the province, but the AGLC will continue to serve as the market regulator while its own online casino and sportsbook competes with many of the familiar names that do business with a licence in Ontario.
Under the two-pronged model, AGLC will be both the regulator and an operator, while the yet-to-be-launched iGaming corporation will be responsible for contracting with and managing private operators.
