Alberta’s commercial igaming market remains on course for an early 2026 launch, according to the province’s minister of service and red tape reduction and author of the iGaming Alberta Act, Dale Nally.
Speaking at the 2025 Canadian Gaming Summit, Nally was confident in his timeline, adding he would have more to share on the progression of Alberta’s shift to a commercial market in the near future.
Currently, the province is served exclusively by monopoly operator PlayAlberta, under the regulatory watch of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC).
Bill 48, which establishes the iGaming Alberta Act, enables multiple commercial operators to expand into the province.
However, the finer details of the regulated market’s rules around aspects such as tax rates and advertising are yet to be thrashed out.
Nally noted that the provincial government plans to settle such matters when it meets in the autumn.
As per Canadian Gaming Business, Nally said: “I will be going back to my cabinet colleagues and we’re going to be talking about advertising standards and tax rates. And then we’re going to make those difficult decisions.
“In terms of timeframes, I can’t give you a month, but I can tell you early next year we’re going to be cutting the ribbon on igaming in Alberta.
“We’re very excited to be able to offer that, and we’re going to have more to share with you in the near future.”
Last year, Nally had forecast the market would launch in October 2025, but early 2026 has been earmarked by the industry as the most likely launch in recent months.
Several operators, including Flutter Entertainment, have factored in early 2026 market launches into the past two quarterly earnings updates.
Nally confirmed that discussions will take place with several key industry figures, including land-based casinos and First Nations stakeholders in Alberta.
“We need to hear from them on what they have to say, what they think and how they see themselves contributing to igaming,” the minister said.
Bill 48, which achieved Royal Assent on 15 May, will provide the market’s legal framework as Alberta looks to combat its current issue of grey and black market operators accounting for more than half of the province’s online gambling.
The new model follows in the footsteps of fellow Canadian province Ontario, which has boasted a commercial market since April 2022.
Nally revealed that Alberta will look to its provincial counterpart as a roadmap for its own market launch, hailing Ontario’s responsible gaming efforts.
He said: “We know that we can never say gambling will always be safe, but we know that there are safer ways to do it. There are more responsible ways to do it, and that’s what Ontario has done.
“They’re leading the way, so we are following what they’re doing very closely.”
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Dale Nally notes that provincial government set for meeting to thrash out regulated market’s details and explains how Ontario will be used as a roadmap
The post Alberta minister says igaming market ready for launch “early next year” first appeared on EGR Intel.