Alberta To Fund New Addiction Treatment Options Using iGaming Revenue

Alberta's government is requesting proposals for new gambling addiction services following the launch of its regulated online gaming market last month. 

The province published a request for expressions of interest this week, looking to fund programs that go beyond what the province’s addiction helpline, Recovery Alberta, already provides. This includes a 21-day bed-based treatment option and existing crisis hotlines. The call for applicants includes organizations that are able to supply enhanced support for those struggling with gambling addiction. 

Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction said the new support options will draw funding from revenue generated by the province's regulated iGaming system. A ministry statement noted that addiction, including gambling addiction, is something no one should have to face without support.

Under Alberta's regulated framework, the province collects 20% of revenue from each private operator in the Alberta sports betting and Alberta online casino markets, and 1% of that total is set aside specifically for what officials describe as social responsibility initiatives, including addiction treatment and public education campaigns.

Nearly 24 sportsbooks and online casinos were live and accepting bets on the day the market opened, and five additional operators have joined since. The rollout mirrors a path Ontario took in 2022, when it became the first Canadian province to open the Ontario sports betting and Ontario online casino markets to private operators.

Ontario has since generated billions in gaming revenue, though researchers there have also pointed to a rise in problem gambling rates following that launch. Alberta officials have not detailed a timeline for when the newly funded addiction services would begin operating or how much money will ultimately be directed toward them, but noted that organizations have until September 10 to apply to the call. 

GeoComply data shows heavy traffic in the first week

Alberta’s regulated market has been popular so far. Following the market’s launch on July 13, the data compliance group GeoComply recorded an early wave of usage, including 3.2 million location checks in the first 72 hours. 

The tech firm reported that the majority of the checks came from the Calgary and Edmonton regions, with high levels of activity coinciding with the men’s World Cup semifinals and final. Geolocation checks peaked at over 53,000 during the final match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday.

The company said it maintained 100% uptime through the launch period and recorded a 99.5% pass rate for operators verifying player locations. GeoComply also noted that this was the first live deployment of its browser-based Adaptive Verification tool, which adjusts the level of location detail it requires based on a player's assessed risk level.

Company chair and co-founder Anna Sainsbury said more than 100,000 Albertans signed up through platforms that use GeoComply's technology and began playing with licensed operators in the first days after launch. 

GeoComply described the figures as an early snapshot rather than a complete picture of the market, and said it plans to continue tracking activity as the province's iGaming sector develops further.