Alberta Passes Regulated Online Gaming Law: Bill 48

Alberta is set to become the second Canadian province with a regulated online gaming market following the passage of Bill 48 in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on Wednesday, May 7. Bill 48, also known as the “iGaming Alberta Act” needs only to receive royal assent to become law: a mere formality that's all but assured.

What Does Bill 48 Do?

The iGaming Alberta Act would create a new government-owned and -operated corporation called the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which would license private companies to offer “online lottery schemes” throughout the province.

As defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, “online lottery schemes” encompasses not only traditional lottery draw and instant win games but also many other types of wagering as well. Casino games, bingo, sports betting, and poker are all considered types of “lottery scheme” under Canadian law and thus would become legal under Bill 48.

Though iGaming will be handled under the auspices of the new Alberta iGaming Corporation, the existing Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission will still retain oversight duties. It will especially have a degree of responsibility for collecting and distributing any tax revenue generated from internet gaming activities.

Many Key Details Omitted

There are many details to be worked out, like tax rates, license fees, responsible gaming measures, and rules for what kinds of betting are acceptable. These will likely be determined by regulators rather than by additional legislation.

According to the text of Bill 48, “This Act comes into force on Proclamation,” which means that the provincial government, currently headed by the United Conservative Party, will decide when its provisions go live. This will give regulators time to draft the necessary documents to flesh out the system.

There haven't been any official indications as to when Alberta real money licensed online gambling will debut. However, many industry observers foresee a late 2025 or early 2026 launch.

Regulated AB Online Gambling Actually Already Present

Any discussion of licensed Alberta internet gaming would be incomplete without acknowledging that it's actually already present in the province. This is because the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission already runs an online gaming website called PlayAlberta.

PlayAlberta hosts real money sports betting, casino gaming (including Live Dealer capabilities), and lotteries. There's no PlayAlberta online poker.

PlayAlberta Website

We reviewed PlayAlberta back in October 2020 when it first opened for business. While some of the problems we identified back then have since been addressed, other concerns, like the lack of an online poker site, are still valid today.

The Commission will continue to operate PlayAlberta as a province-run entity even after the new regulatory framework envisaged by Bill 48 comes to fruition. It will have to compete fairly with private enterprises, however, rather than benefiting from the government-mandated monopoly that it now theoretically enjoys.

Ontario a Forerunner

The model being followed by Alberta is very close to what Ontario has done since it began regulating real money online gaming in April 2022. There are now nearly 50 operators authorized to conduct licensed online gaming in Ontario, and Alberta hopes to be able to eventually achieve similar results.

Ontario's population of 15+ million is more than triple Alberta's 5 million, so it's not likely that any Alberta regulated online gaming environment that emerges will be quite as robust as Ontario's. Nevertheless, Alberta's population does put it in line with several jurisdictions that have successfully implemented licensed internet gambling economies, like Nevada and New Jersey.

Reactions

Reactions to the passage of Bill 48 are mixed. The industry largely welcomes this development with the Canadian Gaming Association commenting:

The Canadian Gaming Association and its members extend their congratulations to Minister Dale Nally [who introduced the bill] and the Government of Alberta for reaching this significant milestone and advancing towards the provision of regulated iGaming and enhanced consumer protections for its citizens.

However, not all are pleased. The spartan nature of the language of Bill 48, with details to be added later, has drawn criticism. A member of the Legislative Assembly from the opposition New Democratic Party, Gurinder Brar, opined:

This approach is just like buying a car without knowing if it has brakes or a steering wheel. It’s bound to lead to a crash.

Play Online Today

While the creaky wheels of government draw closer and closer to the goal of regulated online gambling, you don't have to wait for them to cross the finish line. This is because you can already play at any number of online gaming portals that are located offshore and thus are independent of political developments in Edmonton.

We highly recommend Bodog.eu to our Albertan and Canadian readers. It hosts a well-regarded sportsbook, casino, and poker room. There's even a racebook where you can bet on horses at tracks around the world. Bodog offers a 100% up to $1,000 bonus for poker and other bonuses for sports betting and casino gaming. Click the button below to begin your Bodog journey:

For more info on Bodog, check out this detailed Bodog review. To learn more about highly reputable internet cardrooms for Canadians, head over to this Canadian online poker guide.

May 14, 2025 – by Max Golden, Editor-in-Chief