On March 25th, the Alberta iGaming Corp. announced a July 13th deadline for operators to complete the application process to enter into the upcoming regulated market. This led many in the industry to wonder how long after this deadline the official market launch would take place. Well, it didn't even take a week for us to get our answer.
July 13th has also been announced as the launch date for the regulated gambling market in Alberta. This means that both the sports betting and casino markets will go live on that date, just in time for the World Cup Final.
It is still unclear how many brands will be available right when the market launches. Caesars and PointsBet have confirmed their application and pre-registration for each brand prior to the market going live.
Alberta is going to be the second province in Canada to launch its own regulated market, following in Ontario's footsteps, which launched its own market nearly four years ago in April, 2022.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will be the main market regulator alongside the operator Play Alberta. This will be very similar to Ontario's OGLC with the operator Proline. It's estimated that currently 70% of all iGaming in Alberta is done through offshore licensed brands, so the addition of this market will move many of those brands under an Alberta licence, creating a safer and more reliable betting experience for residents of Alberta.
There will also be a tax on all gambling operators that will help put money back into the province, a number that could potentially reach the billions, based on the success and numbers coming from Ontario.
Bettors will soon have access to several brands that have only been available in Ontario, such as BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
| Application Status | ||
|---|---|---|
#1  Caesars Sportsbook
4.5
/5 |
Confirmed application to enter Alberta | |
#2  Pointsbet
4.5
/5 |
Confirmed application to enter Alberta | |
#3  Draftkings Sportsbook
4.5
/5 |
Reportedly applied for entry | |
#4  FanDuel Sportsbook
4.5
/5 |
Reportedly applied for entry | |
#5 BetMGM
4.5
/5 |
Reportedly applied for entry | |
#6  BetRivers
4.0
/5 |
Reportedly applied for entry | |
#7  theScore Bet
3.5
/5 |
Reportedly applied for entry |
It has been mentioned that around 55 different operators have shown interest in launching in the Alberta market, with many of them still working to complete the application process, which carries a mid July deadline.
Note: Users should be aware that any open bets or futures they may have on grey-market brands that plan to enter the regulated market are likely to be voided when the market launches. These bets will not carry over into the regulated market as users will need to re-register with the new regulated operators. So if you have a future on the World Cup, make sure you get that figured out prior to the July 13th launch date.
This is an exciting announcement for Albertans, as this launch represents a shift toward greater choices and a more modern betting experience. Moving away from the single, government-run option to multiple regulated sportsbooks means better odds competition among betting apps, a drive toward more innovative features like live betting, bet builders, and potentially more options for live streaming of events from the betting sites themselves.
Instead of relying on limited or unregulated options, Albertans will soon have access to a safer, more transparent market that mirrors some of the best jurisdictions in North America, which makes July 13 a highly anticipated date for both casual fans and seasoned bettors!
July 13th! It was announced on March 31st that Alberta will officially launch its commercial online sports betting and casino market on July 13th, 2026!
Yes! Very much like Ontario's model, the new system in Alberta will allow for a bunch of operators to operate legally in the province. As of March 31st, around 55 different operators have shown interest in applying and entering the regulated market.
Final confirmations for all of the brands have yet to be made; however, Caesar's and PointsBet have confirmed their applications and major brands like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are expected to enter jsut like they did in Ontario.
Top Canadian brands like Bet99, Sports Interaction, and NorthStar Bets are also expected to apply and enter the Alberta market.
Yes. Play Alberta will remain active, but it will now compete with other regulated operators instead of being the only legal option in the province.
Offshore brands that choose not to enter the new regulated market will still be available throughout the province. However, the new market aims to bring users away from those brands toward the safer, legal alternatives that offer better user protections and more secure payments.
Yes, we fully expect there to be welcome offers for new users, even if you had been using that brand in the grey market, as you will need to create a new account on the regulated version of the sportsbook.
Similar to Ontario, these brands may not be allowed to advertise these bonuses publicly, but you can find them in the app when you download it and sign up!
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