Alberta is getting closer to opening its doors to regulated online poker. A new bill has already cleared the provincial legislature, and all that remains is a final stamp of approval.
Good to know
- Alberta aims to regulate online poker through a new agency, Alberta iGaming Corporation.
- The law includes provisions to join shared liquidity with provinces like Ontario.
- Launch of online poker in Alberta may happen in 2026, depending on licensing and regulation setup.
A major shift is on the horizon for Alberta’s poker players. The province has passed Bill 48, which lays the groundwork for legal online poker and other forms of digital gaming. Once the bill receives royal assent—a standard procedure where the lieutenant governor signs off—the new legal framework will go into effect.
From grey area to green light
Until now, Alberta’s online poker scene has existed in a legal grey area. Many players used offshore platforms without clear regulatory oversight. With the passage of Bill 48, that is set to change. The legislation introduces the Alberta iGaming Corporation, a new body tasked with regulating and licensing online gaming operators.
Under the bill, only platforms authorized by this new agency will be allowed to run online poker sites or provide services related to them. Any unregistered operation will be considered illegal. The text of the law makes this clear: “No person may provide or operate an iGaming site… unless the person is registered… and providing services to or on behalf of the iGaming corporation.”
A big part of Alberta’s online poker success may depend on its ability to share liquidity with other provinces. With just 4.3 million residents, Alberta alone may not provide enough traffic to sustain large poker pools. Ontario, however, has 16.2 million people and has already built out its online poker system since 2022.
Ontario’s experience shows that a regulated market can work, and a joint player pool could create a much healthier environment for poker. If Alberta joins forces with Ontario, the combined population of 20.5 million would offer better game selection and larger prize pools for players in both provinces.
In the United States, shared liquidity has also been a focus. The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) currently links Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, covering more than 38 million people. West Virginia and Delaware are members too, although operators are still working on going live there. Meanwhile, Connecticut is exploring the option of joining as well.
The model is proving to be a smart way to build a healthy poker ecosystem in regions with smaller populations.
Ontario’s online poker market already includes some major brands: PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, BetMGM, and PartyPoker. Any of these could potentially extend their services to Alberta, depending on how licensing progresses. If everything stays on track, poker platforms could be up and running in Alberta as early as 2026.
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