After years of anticipation, Alberta might finally be ready to move forward with legalizing Canadian online gambling sites, also called commercial iGaming, in the province.
On Wednesday, Bill 48 had its first reading in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The measure is sponsored by Dale Nally, the minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction of Alberta and a member of the legislature.
Bill 48 would essentially bring an Ontario-style iGaming market to the largest Prairie province and Canada’s fourth largest by population (4.3 million). It would allow commercial operators to offer online casino, poker and Canada sports betting apps.
Legally, iGaming has been available in province through the lottery. However, as is the case in most parts of the nation, gray market operators have flourished. Bill 48 would seek to rein in those operators, making them abide by certain rules if they wished to continue offering games in Alberta. It would also provide Alberta with revenue from those operators that make money off wagers from provincial residents and visitors.
“Our goal is not to create new gamblers, but to make existing online gambling safer,” Nally said in a statement. “As the gaming industry continues to evolve globally and in Alberta, it is important that we modernize Alberta’s approach to gaming to protect the health and safety of Albertans, particularly our youth. The legislation we are introducing, if approved, would take the first steps towards this.”
Alberta Online Casinos To Follow Ontario?
Ontario opened its doors to commercial iGaming at Canadian online casinos and sportsbooks three years ago. Since then, many have been anticipating which province would take the next step forward. The longtime favorite has been Alberta, though the timeline has been repeatedly adjusted over the years.
It’s unknown at this time how many operators might choose to participate in a regulated Alberta market. Ontario, which has more than three times the population of Alberta, currently has 49 approved operators that offer 83 online casino, poker and sports betting sites.
Initially, many expected Alberta iGaming to launch sometime in 2024. Last year, that launch date was pushed back to sometime late in 2025. Now, the anticipation is sometime next year. The filing of Bill 48 gives credence to the current timeline.
The first reading is just the beginning of the legislative process; the bill must go through two more readings and a legislative vote before it can receive the Royal Assent and become law. As a minister, Nally is a member of the United Conservative Caucus. The caucus holds 48 of the 87 seats in the body, a majority that should bode well for the measure’s chances, especially since it’s backed by a provincial leader.
"The industry is excited for this next step to bring an open and competitive iGaming market to Alberta," Canadian Gaming Association CEO Paul Burns said in a statement.
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USA Today photo by Eric Bolte
