Octoplay Extends North American Reach with Alberta Conditional License

Online casino games studio Octoplay has been granted conditional license approval from the Alberta regulator, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC), enabling the company to prepare for entry into Canada's latest regulated iGaming market on July 13.  

Under the license, Octoplay will be able to supply its gaming portfolio to Alberta online casinos, which, according to the Alberta government, now stands at 46 entities that have registered so far.  

Alberta will also become the fourth North American jurisdiction in which Octoplay can operate, as it currently has a presence in the Ontario online casino market through partnerships with BetMGM and PokerStars, and recently entered the US in New Jersey and Michigan. It also holds licenses in 11 European jurisdictions, including the UK, Spain, and Denmark, as well as in Brazil and Georgia.  

"Alberta is one of the most strategic market openings on our 2026 roadmap. Entering it with the performance data we've built in Ontario, New Jersey, and Michigan gives us a strong foundation to be one of the first suppliers to partner with local tier-one operators as soon as the market opens," says Ralitsa Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer at Octoplay. 

The company’s Chief Legal Officer, Martina Borg Stevens, added that the conditional approval reflected the strength of the company's compliance structure and added that Octoplay had worked closely with Alberta regulators at every stage of the licensing process.  

Alberta expects $76 million from the first year of regulated iGaming 

Alberta’s upcoming regulated market is set to be one of the most significant in North America, according to the Alberta government, which expects it to generate $76 million in tax in its first year between online casinos and the Alberta sports betting market.

Speaking about the launch, set for July 13, Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said the main aim of the regulated framework was consumer protection. “We know that gambling will never be safe; it will never be responsible. But there are ways to make it a little safer, and there are ways to make it a little more responsible,” he said.  

He argued that regulation gives the authorities the chance to improve player safety through many different measures, including advertising restrictions, a centralized self-exclusion system, and funding for a responsible gambling program.  

According to Nally, around 70% of Alberta's online gambling activity is through unregulated offshore sites, and by bringing some of those companies into a regulated system, he expects the new market will encourage players to use licensed Alberta sports betting apps instead. Ontario, which regulated its online gambling sector in 2022, recently reported that over 91% of its online gambling is done on regulated websites. 

As part of the new market, all licensed operators will contribute 1% of their gross gaming revenue to responsible gambling programs, which will include treatment and support services for people who are suffering from gambling-related harm.