The launch of regulated Alberta iGaming is arguably the biggest item on the calendar for Canadian gaming in 2026.
The consensus is that Alberta will become the second Canadian province and the newest North American jurisdiction to launch commercial online gambling at some point next year. Exactly when remains the subject of debate.
Originally ambitiously targeted for as early as late 2025, the mooted date was shifted to “early 2026” before the province’s legislature passed the iGaming Alberta Act in May. The minister responsible for iGaming, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction of Alberta Dale Nally, spoke about the process at the 2025 Canadian Gaming Summit in June.
Nally said at that SBC event that he would return to his cabinet colleagues this fall for discussions on key issues such as iGaming regulations, advertising standards and tax rate ahead of making firm decisions.
Since then, there has been little in the way of public update.
Alberta awaits iGaming corporation
Whenever the market does open, the plan is for AGLC to continue as both the operator of Play Alberta and the market regulator (similar roles as Ontario Lottery and Gaming and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, respectively, in that province’s market) while a new Alberta iGaming Corporation will perform the iGaming Ontario role as the conduct-and-manage agency.
Canadian Gaming Business reached out to Nally’s office this week to check in on where things stand.
“We continue to meet with members of the iGaming industry and other interested partners so we can get the launch of a private, regulated iGaming market in Alberta right,” Nally’s new Press Secretary Kevin Lee told Canadian Gaming Business on Friday. “Conversations are ongoing and cover a wide range of topics, including the development of the province’s regulatory framework, the implementation of player safety measures like system-wide self-exclusion, and the registration process with Alberta’s iGaming market regulator – Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.
“The Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will oversee the conduct and management of Alberta’s private regulated iGaming market, is a statutory corporation, created when the iGaming Alberta Act was passed this past spring. Work is currently underway to finish standing the organization up.
“We anticipate regulations could be finalized soon and look forward to sharing more details about Alberta iGaming Corporation in early 2026.”
Operators push back launch timelines
With no public details having emerged in recent months, Ontario-licensed operators eyeing the Alberta market have begun to push back their timelines.
PointsBet CEO Sam Swanell said in August that he expected the second quarter of the calendar year, while Betway and Jackpot City parent company Super Group suggested in November that the second half of 2026 was more likely.
Many big questions still need answering.
While Nally has confirmed Alberta will follow an Ontario-like model of offering regulated online sports betting and online casino and letting numerous operators enter the market, as well as the fact that a province-wide self-exclusion system will be established, we don’t know what the tax rate will be, what the advertising rules will look like (as Canadian senators continue to push for national restrictions), whether it could seek to pool liquidity with Ontario, and more.
Nally faces voter recall petition
Somewhat complicating the issue, and potentially the timeline, is the fact that iGaming is likely not the most pressing thing on Nally’s mind right now. The minister is one of numerous sitting Alberta Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) facing a recall petition, a process aimed at removing MLAs from office between elections by collecting sufficient signatures in the respective member’s electoral division.
Elections Alberta approved the petition filed by a citizen against Nally, and the signature collection process is open until late February. The number of signatures on the recall petition must be equal to or more than 60% of the votes cast in the constituency in the 2023 election to trigger a recall vote on Nally’s future as an MLA.
Morinville-St. Albert MLA Nally told the St. Albert Gazette that the recall process “should not be used to overturn democratic elections just because an individual disagrees with government policy.”
Nally publicly responded to the recall petition by claiming that the constituent’s petition may not be valid as they didn’t vote in the last election, something which turned out to be incorrect. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended Nally this week over accusations that he may have breached election laws by inappropriately using the confidential electoral list.
Nally’s office did not comment on the recall petition situation when asked by Canadian Gaming Business.
