DraftKings to launch in Alberta on July 13, pending approval
Table of contents
- DraftKings has announced its intent to launch an online sportsbook and casino in Alberta, Canada, on July 13, 2026, pending licensure and regulatory approval from the AGLC.
- Alberta will be the operator’s second Canadian province, 34th North American jurisdiction for online sports betting, and seventh for online casino.
- The launch coincides with the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across North America, which DraftKings has flagged as a commercial opportunity.
DraftKings has announced its intent to launch an online sportsbook and casino in Alberta, Canada, on July 13, 2026, pending licensure and regulatory approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
The company has made the announcement yesterday on April 16.
A crowded day-one field
DraftKings joins a growing roster of operators set to go live in Alberta from the market’s opening day.
FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Betway, NorthStar, and Betty are among those expected to launch on or shortly after July 13, according to industry reporting.
More than 55 operators have requested licensing information from the AGLC, with at least 32 operator groups having formally applied ahead of the market opening.
The July 13 date was set by the AGLC and later confirmed by Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally in a letter to stakeholders. The province’s launch will make it only the second Canadian jurisdiction to operate a competitive, multi-operator iGaming model, following Ontario’s open market which went live in April 2022.
Alberta will mark DraftKings’ 34th jurisdiction for online sports betting in North America and its seventh for online casino. The operator currently runs sports betting across 30 US states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Eligible Alberta residents can already pre-register for DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino ahead of the July date.
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.”
Alberta’s dual-authority structure
The province’s regulatory framework operates under a dual-authority model. The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) will manage the market commercially, with the AGLC serving as the licensing and compliance regulator.
Under the approved structure, the provincial government will take 20% of net iGaming revenue after First Nations and social responsibility allocations, with the latter set at 3% of gross gaming revenue.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins confirmed in February that the company had already allocated budget for the Alberta launch, though an exact date had not yet been set at that point.
The timing of the entry mirrors DraftKings’ approach in Ontario, where it went live in May 2022, roughly five weeks after that market opened. Ontario now hosts 48 licensed operators across 82 gaming websites and generated over C$4bn in net revenue in 2025, per iGaming Ontario data.
Market trajectory to watch
Alberta’s opening will test whether a competitive western Canadian market can replicate Ontario’s growth curve. With major operators queuing for day-one entry and the FIFA World Cup driving early consumer interest, the structural conditions for a fast start appear strong.
For operators, the revenue-share model and the AiGC’s market management role will be the key variables. Whether the Alberta model inspires other Canadian provinces to pursue competitive licensing frameworks will depend in large part on how effectively the regulator manages market integrity and player protection from the outset.
Keep reading
Do you have a story worth sharing?
Send it over to our editors!
