iGaming Alberta Act Approves Expansion to Private Operators

• Alberta legislators vote to approve iGaming Alberta Act
• Bill 48 passes with no amendments
• Privatized Alberta sports betting could launch early 2026

This week, the iGaming Alberta Act passed its third reading in legislature leaving it one step away from being signed into law. The final step to make the bill a reality is for Royal Assent, the formal approval by Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani.

Bill 48 passed with no amendments from the Committee of the Whole and was approved later in a third reading on Wednesday. 

The iGaming Alberta Act, also known as Bill 48, was introduced earlier this year to help expand legalized sports betting in the province to private commercially-run operators. The bill originated from Minister of Service Alberta, Dale Nally. Nally commented on the goals of the new bill.

“This is about bringing order to a growing market, collecting revenue, and giving Albertans a safer, more responsible way to play,” he said.

“This is about bringing order to a growing market, collecting revenue, and giving Albertans a safer, more responsible way to play.” – Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta.

Alberta Joins Ontario as Only Provinces With Private Sports Betting

The expansion of regulated sports betting sees Alberta joining Ontario as the only two provinces with such a format. Currently, the province-run PlayAlberta is the only option for legal Alberta sports betting.

Ontario has 49 fully-licensed and regulated sportsbooks and casinos and generated $2.2 billion in revenue in just its second year of operations. 

Players in Ontario have access to sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, Caesars, BetRivers and others. Many of these operators are expected to pursue licenses to operate in Alberta as well. The iGaming Alberta Act would also allow companies operating in the gray offshore markets to obtain a license.

When Will Private Sports Betting Launch in Alberta?

Bill 48 includes the launch of the Alberta iGaming Corporation who will regulate sports betting in the province. The expectation is for privatization to launch during the first quarter of 2026.

However, further details need to be finalized this year by the corporation for items like:

• Tax rate
• Advertising restrictions
• Revenue sharing
• Responsible gambling guidelines

The Alberta sports betting market continues to grow with privatization coming and PlayAlberta already in place. Albertans also have access to a long list of Canada online sportsbooks that operate in the offshore markets.