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This Monday afternoon, the brass from global betting giant DraftKings will be in the Alberta capital city of Edmonton for a party.
Toasts will be made. Hors d’ouevres will be served. And it’s all to celebrate the launch of DraftKings’ Alberta platform.
That should give you an idea of what a big day July 13 will be for the iGaming industry. Alberta will become the second Canadian province, after Ontario, to launch a regulated iGaming marketplace.
What Alberta Gambling Operators are Launching?
As of this week, 49 platforms have received conditional approvals from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis to begin operations on Monday.
They include many of the global heavy hitters of the industry, from Bet365 to BetMGM to Tonybet and DraftKings, plus made-in-Alberta operations like a new app to come from River Cree Casino.
The sites will send 20 per cent of the revenue back to the Alberta government, and two per cent is earmarked for First Nations.
Read our dedicated guides to choose the best platforms:
Why Is Alberta Launching Regulated Gambling Now?
The better question is, why not now? Six years ago, the Alberta government launched the Play Alberta platform, which offered sports betting and casino games. It was the only legal platform for Albertans to use and, according to the most recent government estimate, generates about $250 million CAD in revenue a year.
But Dale Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said that his department — which is in charge of Alberta’s gaming industry — estimates that what Play Alberta takes in only represents, at best, a third of what people in the province spend on Internet Gaming.
The ministry estimates the rest went to offshore sites, or sites based in other provinces that get licences from First Nations to operate — as treaties with Indigenous bands allow them to control gaming on their lands.
So, instead of continuing to bleed potential revenue out of the province, Alberta made the decision to regulate the industry.
What Are Alberta’s Gambling Rules and Betting Restrictions?
Alberta’s gambling ad rules are stricter than Ontario’s. AGLC had a chance to take a close look at Ontario’s regulations and made some tweaks.
What you may notice is that regulated sites can offer casino games and sports betting, but you won’t find any other futures or Polymarket-like bets. Alberta rules forbid gambling on things like political races or the stock market.
They also forbid any gambling platform to treat betting like shares that can be sold back like stocks (prediction markets). Just over a week before the Alberta iGaming market went online, Polymarket’s site was geoblocked in Alberta.
Albertans who used Polymarket in the past can hold onto their positions but cannot buy any new positions.
As Polymarket relies heavily on political and speculative betting and wagering on the prices of stocks and cryptocurrency, it is not compatible with Alberta’s rules, nor is it regulated in Alberta.
Ironically, Polymarket currently offers positions on three Alberta-related political questions. Will Alberta join the United States? Will Alberta vote for independence in 2026? And, will Donald Trump try to acquire Alberta?
Why Alberta Is Such a Key Market for Sportsbooks and Online Casinos
Why Alberta? Follow the money. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation finds that Alberta has the highest average income of any of the 10 provinces — $119,700 CAD per year.
At the same time, the Canadian Real Estate Association pins the average cost of a home in Alberta at $170,000 lower than the national average.
High income + low cost of living = disposable income. And, with crude prices rising in 2026, this oil-rich province will likely see cash windfalls through royalties.
And Alberta is sports mad. The Edmonton Oilers of the NHL were just ranked the third most profitable sports franchise in the world by Forbes — ahead of the likes of Arsenal or the New York Yankees or any NFL team outside of the Dallas Cowboys. 50-50 draws held during Oilers games often have jackpots in the millions of dollars.
How to Spot a Legit Alberta Gambling Site (AGLC-Licensed)
Want to make sure the platform you’re using is legit in Alberta?
First off, Alberta rules prevent any sort of marketing or enticement to minors. So if the site uses things like cartoon characters or takes on children’s games, those are red flags.
All licensed operators have to agree to sign up for Alberta’s centralized self-exclusion system. AGLC will control the province’s exclusion system, not the operators. The province has a web platform that is open 24-7 where people can register to exclude themselves from the gaming market.
According to the regulations, all registered platforms must “promote AGLC’s self-exclusion program and responsible gambling materials” and “allow players to easily access AGLC’s centralized self-exclusion tool through the iGaming site.”
So, look for those links to the self-exclusion program. They’re clear signs that the platform is licensed for Alberta operation.
The sites that are legally operating in Alberta will do their best to advertise that fact. They paid registration fees to operate in Alberta and are kicking back 20 per cent of their funds to the province. If they are paying that kind of taxation, they’ll want to leverage it.
What to Do If You Have a Dispute With an Alberta Betting Site
Are you disputing a lost bet or a cash withdrawal gone awry? All operators must offer dispute resolution on their sites 24-7. Even if you’re playing at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday, you have to be able to have your say.
The rules state that the game operators are the first contacts when it comes to player disputes. And “disputes must be resolved under Alberta and Canadian law. Resolution of routine disputes must be resolved within a reasonable timeframe.”
But if there is a game malfunction, or a player feels that the operator has not addressed concerns properly, the issue “must be escalated to AGLC immediately.” The hotline is 1-800-742-7818.
