Alberta registers 28 operators for July market launch

• The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission has published a gaming registrations list confirming 28 operators have registered or begun registration for the province’s iGaming market, set to open on July 13.
• Alberta becomes Canada’s second regulated iGaming jurisdiction after Ontario, with the provincial government projecting approximately CAD $100 million in annual tax revenue.
• First Nations leaders have raised concerns about the adequacy of revenue sharing and consultation ahead of the launch.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC) has published a gaming registrations list confirming 28 operators have registered or begun the registration process for Alberta’s regulated iGaming market, which opens on July 13.

The province becomes Canada’s second open iGaming jurisdiction after Ontario, which launched its competitive market in April 2022.

Operators line up

The registrations list includes major North American brands: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, BallyBet, PointsBet Canada, and theScore Bet, alongside the government-run PlayAlberta platform.

Several operators are entering with multiple brands. Caesars will launch Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online, and Horseshoe Online Casino. Bally’s Canada is preparing BallyBet Sportsbook and Casino alongside Monopoly Casino and Sportsbook.

Super Group has registered six platforms, including Betway, JackpotCity, and Spin Casino.

The full registry encompasses 69 gaming registrations, including 22 system providers, eight platform developers, and 11 goods and services suppliers. Operators pay $150,000 annually plus a one-time $50,000 application fee.

AGLC has noted a high volume of enquiries and confirmed it will release weekly updates to the registrations list, with priority given to organisations that have initiated the process and paid the required fees. Bet365 does not appear on the current list.

Greg Karamitis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports at DraftKings, said:

“We’re excited about the opportunity to expand DraftKings’ footprint in Canada and bring our online sportsbook and casino experiences to customers in Alberta. With the anticipated launch aligning with the World Cup — hosted right here in North America — it’s a particularly exciting moment for sports fans in the province to engage with our platform.”

Revenue model

According to Alberta’s official iGaming strategy, the province will allocate 80% of net iGaming revenue to operators and retain 20% for the government. First Nations and social responsibility funding, totalling 3% of Gross Gaming Revenue, is allocated before the operator revenue split is applied.

The framework operates through a dual-authority structure. AGLC handles regulatory oversight, and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) manages commercial operations, including anti-money laundering compliance, public complaints, and financial reporting. Operators must complete regulatory registration with AGLC before entering a commercial agreement with AiGC.

The government’s stated rationale for the launch is redirecting gambling activity from unregulated platforms. According to Alberta’s official iGaming strategy, unregulated operators are estimated to capture approximately 70% of Alberta’s total iGaming market.

First Nations concerns

The launch has not been without controversy. Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of the Treaty 8 First Nations, has questioned whether the 2% gross revenue allocation to First Nations groups adequately offsets projected declines in land-based casino income.

Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations, said:

“Two per cent is the number that they’re willing to share, but not share the rest of the details. It’s very concerning at this point in time because it has the potential to impact the nations.”

He added that consultation had been limited, calling on the province to engage directly with First Nations chiefs on how funds will be distributed.

“There’s a lot of issues here, and we’d really like the province to come to the table and talk to the chiefs … so we can be a part of this process.”

Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, defended the revenue model and indicated the province would not increase the allocation.

Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said:

“If they’re going to be cannibalized in the future, then they’re being cannibalized currently.”

He said revenue sharing details would be developed in partnership with First Nations groups through the Ministry of Indigenous Relations, adding:

“We’re not going to tell them how the money needs to be used. We’re going to ask them how they would like it managed.”

The tension mirrors a legal dispute in Ontario, where the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation has taken the province to court over revenue sharing and consultation.

Chief Kelly LaRocca noted her nation’s casino has seen a revenue decline since Ontario’s regulated market launched, and said Alberta First Nations should follow the case closely.

With the July 13 go-live date coinciding with the FIFA World Cup finals and the Canadian Football League season, operators entering Alberta’s new market face an immediate test of player acquisition strategy.

How quickly the province channels grey-market activity into the regulated framework, and whether its approach to First Nations revenue sharing withstands further scrutiny, will be watched closely by other provinces still evaluating their own iGaming strategies.