Alberta Gambling Market Launch Postponed to 2025

Alberta Postpones the Launch of the Expanded iGaming Market Until 2025

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Updated: 13.01.2025

The government of Alberta has declared that it would postpone the opening of its enlarged online gaming sector until 2025. The purpose of this delay is to address stakeholder concerns and improve the regulatory environment.

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Alberta Online Casinos +

Summary+

Position in the Government

Minister Dale Nally’s spokesperson, Brandon Aboultaif, underlined the need of giving it considerable thought: “We want to ensure a conducive business environment while protecting Albertans, particularly our youth.” We are continuing the discussions with industry stakeholders who have asked for more feedback on the model.

Present Situation of the Market

The province’s only authorized online gaming site is still Play Alberta.
More than 313,000 player accounts have registered, and the estimated total bets for 2023–2024 are $5.36 billion, representing 45% of Alberta’s iGaming industry.
There are still a lot of illicit gaming websites.

Implementation Difficulties

The delay has been caused by a number of factors:

The proposed regulatory system has been twice rejected by the cabinet.
Discussion of the planned 25% tax rate (in contrast to Ontario’s 20% tax rate).
Market competitiveness worries.
Talk about expediting the approval process for operators registered in Ontario.

Industry Reaction

The business is worried about the delay; according to one insider, “things have gone pear-shaped in Alberta.” Industry analysts reference to Ontario’s successful 86.4% channelization rate (based on an Ipsos research from February 2024) as a benchmark and believe that the higher planned tax rate may have an effect on market channelization.

As the regulatory framework is developed during 2025, the government intends to give regular updates.

Author (Senior Content Strategist)

Emma Larsson

6 Articles

Emma Larsson, the Senior Content Strategist at Rather Dashing Games, brings over 8 years of experience in the online gambling industry. Her journey at Rather Dashing Games began as a Copywriter in 2014, advancing to Content Specialist in 2018, before assuming her current role in 2022. Emma’s diverse background in content creation, SEO, and player engagement enables her to develop and execute effective content strategies that resonate with Canadian readers. Her deep understanding of player needs and exceptional analytical skills make her an invaluable asset to the team.

Verified by Head of Content: Alec Martinez