Alberta’s iGaming Bill 48 Advances to Committee Stage

The debate surrounding the regulation of online gambling in Alberta has taken a significant step forward with the passage of Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, which was approved at the second reading in the Legislative Assembly on April 16, 2025. The bill, introduced by Minister Dale Nally, is expected to lay the foundation for a commercial iGaming market in the province, following the model established in Ontario.

At this stage, the bill was not discussed during the floor session but was moved forward for further review. The next step in the legislative process will involve a detailed examination of the bill in the Committee of the Whole, where members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) will review its provisions clause by clause, making necessary amendments before the bill is brought back for third reading and final approval.

Bill 48 is designed to create a legal framework for regulated online gambling in Alberta, allowing private operators to enter the market and compete with the government-run Play Alberta platform. This move is expected to mirror the successful regulatory model used in Ontario, where multiple private operators have been licensed to offer online gambling services.

Under the provisions of the bill, a new entity, the iGaming Alberta Corporation, will be established. This organization will be responsible for managing and conducting the iGaming activities in the province, much like iGaming Ontario (iGO) does in Ontario. However, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will act as the regulator, overseeing the new market and ensuring compliance with the province’s standards.

The bill also proposes the creation of a centralized self-exclusion system, a tool that would allow players to ban themselves from all regulated online gambling sites with a single action. While this system is not yet in place in Ontario, it is in development and is considered a significant step toward player protection.

Minister Nally emphasized that the primary goal of the bill is to improve the safety of online gambling, particularly by targeting grey-market and illegal gambling sites that have been operating unchecked. “A significant number of Albertans are potentially being preyed upon by grey-market sites or illicit sites,” Nally stated during the second reading. “This legislation proposes to change that… Our goal is not to create new gamblers but to make existing online gambling safer.”

While Bill 48 provides a general framework for the establishment of a regulated iGaming market, there are still many details that remain to be determined. The bill does not specify tax rates or licensing fees, nor does it outline the exact structure of the market or the requirements that operators will have to meet to enter it.

One of the key points that still needs to be addressed is how the surplus funds from the iGaming Alberta Corporation will be allocated to the province. Although it is stated that surplus funds will be directed to the government, the exact amount and distribution remain unclear.

The Alberta government, led by the United Conservative Party (UCP), has indicated that further details on these regulations will be released later in the year, following additional consultations with indigenous groups, industry stakeholders, and community leaders. However, the lack of concrete details has drawn criticism from the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), with some members arguing that the bill is vague and lacks essential details. One NDP member compared the bill to “buying a car without knowing if it has brakes or a steering wheel.”

As Bill 48 moves through the legislative process, it will face more scrutiny in the Committee of the Whole, where MLAs will have the opportunity to refine the bill’s details. This stage is expected to take some time as lawmakers consider various amendments and clarify the provisions related to taxation, operator requirements, and player protection measures.

Once the bill passes through the committee, it will be brought back for a third reading, where final approval could be granted, paving the way for the establishment of a regulated iGaming market in Alberta.

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As Alberta prepares to enter the regulated iGaming space, the broader Canadian gaming industry is also experiencing significant changes. The Canadian Gaming Summit 2025, scheduled for June 18 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, will focus on the most recent developments in sports betting and casino markets across the country. Industry leaders will gather to discuss the future of gambling in Canada, including how new regulations and consumer protections can be balanced with the growing demand for innovation and player engagement.

With the iGaming Alberta Act progressing through the legislative process, the province is poised to join Ontario in offering a robust, regulated online gambling market, ensuring a safer and more competitive environment for both operators and players.

Source:
iGaming Alberta Act passes second reading, canadiangamingbusiness.com, April 17, 2025.
Sports betting and casino focus at Canadian Gaming Summit 2025, canadiangamingbusiness.com, April 22, 2025.