Alberta Targets Early 2026 for iGaming Launch

Alberta may soon welcome private sportsbook operators like DraftKings and FanDuel, potentially in time for next year’s Super Bowl. The province is moving closer to launching a regulated iGaming market, following comments from Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally during the Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto.

Good to know

• Alberta plans to finalize tax and advertising rules this fall.
• Bill 48 allows private sportsbooks to operate under provincial oversight.
• Alberta would become the second province with a regulated iGaming model.

Nally told the audience that once Alberta resolves remaining questions around tax rates and advertising standards, the government will be ready to launch iGaming Alberta. While he did not commit to an exact month, he said early 2026 is the target for a market debut. “We’re going to be cutting the ribbon on our iGaming Alberta and we’re very excited to be able to offer that,” he said.

His comments build on expectations set by the recently passed iGaming Alberta Act. The law gives a legal framework for private operators to enter Alberta’s market and compete with the government-run Play Alberta platform.

Although Play Alberta is the only official operator, many residents already use grey and black market platforms, which account for more than half of all online betting in the province. The new system will bring these operators under provincial regulation and taxation.

Alberta’s model mirrors Ontario’s approach. Ontario launched its market through iGaming Ontario, and Alberta will use a similar structure with its Alberta iGaming Corporation.

Before that can happen, the government still needs to consult with stakeholders, including First Nations and land-based casinos. Nally mentioned that decisions around athlete appearances in gambling ads are still under discussion. He asked attendees at the summit for their opinion on whether restrictions should apply, similar to Ontario’s model.

“I will be going back to my cabinet colleagues in the fall and we’re going to be talking about advertising standards and tax rates,” Nally said. “This is going to be a cabinet decision.”

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