Alberta will flick the switch on regulated commercial online gambling on 13 July, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has announced, as it becomes the first Canadian province to follow in the footsteps of Ontario and permit an open market.
Online sports betting and casino will arrive just over a year since the iGaming Aberta Act passed last May, while the AGLC published a framework for licensed operators in January.
As it stands, government-controlled Play Alberta, which launched in 2020, is the only legal igaming offering in the province, serving up casino, sports and lottery.
Successful licence applicants will pay taxes equivalent to 20% gross gaming revenue (GGR), while a further 2% will be allocated for First Nations and 1% towards social responsibility initiatives.
There is also a one-time C$50,000 (£27,000) cost for applications, as well as a C$150,000 annual registration fee.
Platform providers will pay $15,000, with other suppliers including oddsmakers, ewallet providers and independent integrity monitors charged $3,000 annually.
An update on the AGLC’s site reads: “Beginning 13 July, operators will be able to conduct and manage their legally registered igaming platform in Alberta.
“All applications and fees to AGLC must be submitted as of this date and contracts signed with the Alberta iGaming Corporation.
“The following sections list the steps to become registered and compliance requirements to open an igaming site.”
Operators and other stakeholders were informed on earlier this week of the launch date via a letter dated 30 March
Dale Nally, minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, wrote in the letter: “The launch of a regulated igaming market is an exciting chapter for our province, and I am confident that we can work together to build a market that is both competitive and socially responsible.
“Alberta’s future in igaming is bright, and, with your partnership, we will ensure it is a success for everyone.”
The letter was co-signed by AGLC chair Larry Spagnolo and Alberta iGaming Corporation interim CEO Dan Keene.
In January, AGLC laid out the required framework for operators ahead of the market going live. Alberta estimates that around 70% of the total igaming market is captured by grey market firms.
In comparison, PlayAlberta is projected to hold between 23% and 32% of the market, as per province estimates
Unlicensed firms were warned midway through March to either submit a completed application form and pay registration fees or cease activity in the market by 13 July.
Nine unnamed firms had paid the fee at the time of that letter, 17 March, out of over 55 interested brands.
Operators including DraftKings, Rush Street Interactive, Flutter Entertainment, Super Group and Caesars Entertainment have stated their intention to be operational when the market launches.
Eric Hession, Caesars Digital president, said last month following the announcement of pre-registration for Alberta customers: “Opening pre‑registration is an important first step that allows players to prepare for launch while we finalise our plans to bring our full trifecta of platforms online in Alberta.
“We welcome the province’s continued progress toward a regulated online market and appreciate the Alberta iGaming Corporation’s work to support operators through this process.”
Meanwhile, Flutter CFO Rob Coldrake said during the operator’s Q4 earnings call that $70m would be directed towards new state investment “as we expect to launch in Alberta in Q2”.
The impending launch in Alberta, which is home to just over four million people, will be around four years since Ontario opened up to commercial operators.
In iGaming Ontario’s latest financial report, operators generated revenue of C$342m for the month of February, while there were 1.3 million active players in the province that month.
The post Alberta to launch regulated online gambling on 13 July first appeared on EGR Intel.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis announces the commercial market’s opening date, with the likes of FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars set to enter the Canadian province
The post Alberta to launch regulated online gambling on 13 July first appeared on EGR Intel.