Thirty-three Operators Apply for Alberta License Ahead of Launch

Alberta will launch regulated iGaming July 13, with up to 33 operators applying for iGaming license in the province

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: April 21, 2026 4:16 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Pictured: Edmonton Oilers Mattias Ekholm and Kasperi Kapanen celebrate as we look at the upcoming Alberta iGaming launch. Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

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The Canadian province of Alberta is looking to launch its licensed online casino and sports betting market on July 13. Currently, 33 operators have already submitted their license applications.

Dave Nally, Alberta's Minister of Service, said that the province has already received deposits for license fees from 20 applicants. The launch also draws the interest of key operators like DraftKings, which recently launched its pre-registration portal in the province.

The upcoming launch reflects both demand and a shift toward regulation. Alberta sports betting and Alberta online casinos currently offer online gambling through the province-operated platform Play Alberta, but officials estimate that around 70% of activity occurs with offshore operators. The new framework aims to move that activity into licensed environments, supported by a 20% tax rate on operators.

Nally indicated that revenue generation was not the main objective. He stated that, if possible, he would eliminate online gambling entirely, but acknowledged that such an option does not exist. The focus instead is on creating safer conditions for players through regulated platforms.

Interest from established operators has been a key feature of the rollout. Nally pointed to theScore Bet, owned by Penn Entertainment, as an example of recognized brands entering the market. TheScore continues to operate in Canada and benefits from strong engagement through its sports media platform, which reports about 4 million monthly users across North America.

Penn has maintained theScore Bet branding in Canada while adjusting its US strategy following the end of its ESPN BET partnership. The company expects to spend between $15 million and $20 million around Alberta's launch, with Chief Executive Jay Snowden emphasizing the need to build its customer base quickly.

Ontario market growth highlights scale of regulated iGaming

The iGaming sector in Ontario provides an instructive case study in regulated market expansion - one that is particularly relevant as Alberta prepares to launch its own iGaming framework. Data published by iGaming Ontario show that operators in the province handled CA$9.52 billion in wagers in January, breaking the previous record set in December 2025.

Ontario gaming operators have been exceeding CA$9 billion in wagering for the past four consecutive months, with gross gaming revenue over CA$400 million in both November and December.

Total wagers for 2025 were CA$98.3 billion, a 26% increase year-over-year, while operator revenue climbed 34%, clearing the CA$4 billion threshold for the first time.

The Ontario online casino and Ontario sports betting markets generated an estimated CA$807 million in provincial tax revenue during 2025. Since the market opened in April 2022, operators have recorded cumulative revenue of over CA$10 billion, generating roughly CA$2 billion in tax contributions over that period.

Player participation and market competition have grown in tandem. By year-end 2025, active accounts stood at 1.2 million, with revenue per account climbing to CA$334. Entering this year, 48 licensed operators run more than 80 approved platforms, making Ontario one of the most competitive regulated iGaming markets in North America.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.