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New Brunswick Explores Opening Online Gambling to Private Operators

The province is reviewing its options as Ontario and Alberta operate competitive markets for online sports betting and casino games.

Andrew Reid

Last Updated: October 22, 2026 3:41 PM EDT • 2 minute read

Pictured: A puck goes past a Moncton Wildcats goaltender as we look at the province of New Brunswick considering opening up to private iGaming operators. Photo by REUTERS/Paul Darrow

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New Brunswick is considering opening its online gambling market to private operators, potentially ending Atlantic Lottery's exclusive role in providing provincially regulated online sports betting and casino games.

"Government is exploring options around regulating private online operators," Finance Minister René Legacy told Brunswick News, according to Legal Sports Report.

The province has not announced legislation, a decision or a timetable for opening the market. Two Canadian provinces, Ontario and Alberta, already allow private operators to participate in their regulated online gambling industries.

What could change in New Brunswick?

Atlantic Lottery currently operates New Brunswick's regulated online gambling market, offering sports betting, casino games, and lottery products. The Crown corporation is jointly owned by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, with profits returned to the four provincial governments.

Private companies already operate New Brunswick's two land-based casinos on behalf of the provincial government, but the sports betting sites in Canada remain off limits.

A central concern is the amount of gambling activity occurring outside that regulated system.

Atlantic Lottery spokesperson Greg Weston told Brunswick News that outside operators attract more than C$250 million in annual gambling revenue from Atlantic Canada without contributing to provincial revenues or operating under regional regulations.

That estimate covers all four Atlantic provinces, not New Brunswick alone. Atlantic Lottery previously estimated approximately C$200 million annually was leaving the region.

Finance and Treasury Board spokesperson David Kelly said officials are monitoring other jurisdictions to maintain a safe and appropriately regulated gambling environment.

Ontario provides established model

Ontario sports betting and Ontario online casinos launched competitive markets on April 4, 2022. Operators must register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and enter an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.

The market included 49 operators and 84 gaming websites as of Sept. 1. Players must be at least 19 and physically located in Ontario. The government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation also continues to operate OLG.ca alongside private companies.

The framework demonstrates how a province can introduce private competition while maintaining regulatory oversight and an existing public gambling operator.

Alberta offers newer example

Alberta became Canada's second province with a competitive regulated online gambling market when it launched legal Alberta sports betting and Alberta online casinos on July 13, 2026, with 22 approved websites.

The Alberta iGaming Corporation conducts and manages the market, while Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulates operators. Alberta also requires responsible gambling measures, including deposit and time limits, self-exclusion, and intervention when potentially harmful gambling patterns emerge.

Under its revenue-sharing framework, 2% of gross gaming revenue supports First Nations initiatives and 1% funds social responsibility programs. The remaining net gaming revenue is divided 80% to operators and 20% to the government.

Written by:
Andrew Reid

Andrew Reid is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review with over a decade of experience in sports media and betting analysis. Andrew focuses on NFL and Soccer player prop markets, specifically leveraging defensive efficiency matchups and high-danger scoring data to identify mispriced lines. In the UFC, he specializes in technical striking differentials and positional grappling control to find value in "Method of Victory" markets. He holds a degree in Kinesiology from Acadia University and a diploma from the College of Sports Media. Prior to joining SBR, Andrew served as a producer and on-air talent for the FNTSY Sports Network and as an editor for the USA Today Network.