Alberta’s legislation for online casino games and other forms of online betting and offline gambling will undergo major changes in the future. Read on to learn more about Alberta and its gambling laws, including what the current legislation is, why things look set to change, and how online gambling might look different in the years to come.
Current Gambling and Online Gambling Legislation in Alberta
As of July 2024, you must be at least 18 years old to gamble in Alberta. Canadian Legal FAQs, a site that is part of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, states that only gambling activities licensed by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, or AGLC, are allowed. These activities include raffles, lotteries, slots, and certain types of sports betting.
However, while gambling activities generally require a license, you’re allowed to gamble privately as long as it’s not for profit or part of a business.
Can You Gamble Online in Alberta?
If you were to ask, “Is online gambling legal in Alberta?” the answer would be yes. You can gamble online legally in Alberta. However, that doesn’t mean you have legal access to just any online casino.
According to Canadian Legal FAQs, you can currently only gamble legally through Alberta’s one and only official online gambling website. If you reside in Alberta and gamble on an unregulated site, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
However, in Alberta, the online gambling industry looks set to further open up, thanks to Bill 16.
What is Bill 16?
Bill 16 is an act that aims to make regulatory processes faster and thereby increase investment. The Government of Alberta website states that:
“Bill 16, The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, was introduced on April 8, 2024, and would update 12 pieces of legislation across 10 different ministries to eliminate more than 230 unnecessary requirements and save Alberta families and businesses an estimated $1.5 million each year.”
More specifically, Bill 16 is set to create potential opportunities for the gambling industry in Alberta. In the Canadian Gaming Business article “Alberta Passes Bill Opening Potential Door for Gambling Expansion,” the author describes how the provincial government can conduct and manage gaming in the province alongside the AGLC.
The article further explains: “In essence, it legally clears the path for the government to allow chosen and licensed third-party operators to offer gaming services and products in Wild Rose Country alongside the AGLC’s PlayAlberta online sportsbook and casino, which the commission operates on behalf of the government.”
This change isn’t just being made on a whim, either. Speaking to Canadian Gaming Business in the article “Minister Dale Nally Discusses Alberta’s Gaming Path,” Minister Dale Nally specifically discusses how roughly 55% of Alberta’s gaming market is held by unregulated operators. He said: “We want to open our market to reduce the size and scope of the unregulated market, ensure that more of the money played in Alberta stays in Alberta, and provide Albertans with more consumer choice.”
The Potential Future of Online Gambling in Alberta
Regarding what the market might look like once legislation is finalized, iGaming Business wrote that Alberta is likely to follow a similar path forward to Ontario in their article “Alberta to Follow Ontario Roadmap in Launching Commercial Online Gambling Market.” At a press conference in June, Minister Dale Nally confirmed that they would be using Ontario’s model to guide them:
“It’s going to be very similar to Ontario. We’re following their model as they built the roadmap. We’ll massage it a little bit, but it’s been inspired by the experience in Ontario. It’s going to be an open and free market.”
Even though the date for when the market will open is currently unknown, this first step has excited many industry players and gamblers about what the future holds. These changes will undoubtedly shift gambling in Alberta, but if more provinces follow suit, they could also possibly lead to changes that affect all Canada gambling laws.
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