Alberta

Alberta is the second Canadian province with a fully regulated online-casino market. Under the iGaming Alberta Act (Bill 48), passed in May 2025, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) commission began licensing private operators on 13 July 2026, when the market went live with its first wave of operators. Alongside the regulated operators, AGLC still runs its own platform, PlayAlberta. This page covers what the iGaming Alberta Act changed, what regulated operators look like, and where Albertans stand now.

What Bill 48 changed

  • Private operators are legal in Alberta

    The iGaming Alberta Act ended the provincial monopoly. Since 13 July 2026, casinos that meet AGLC’s licensing standards can legally offer real-money gambling to Alberta residents. Before launch the only legal Alberta-licensed product was PlayAlberta, AGLC’s own platform; everything else was offshore.

  • AGLC is the regulator

    Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) runs operator vetting, integrity standards, advertising rules and dispute resolution. A separate conduct-and-manage entity, the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), holds the commercial agreements with operators, mirroring iGaming Ontario‘s role.

  • The framework mirrors Ontario

    AGLC’s model is close to Ontario’s: tight bonus-advertising restrictions, mandatory self-exclusion, KYC at first withdrawal, segregated player funds, and a public register of approved operators. AGLC finalised its advertising Standards in June 2026, ahead of the 13 July launch.

  • PlayAlberta continues

    AGLC’s own product, PlayAlberta, is not going away. It continues to operate alongside the licensed private operators, the same way OLG’s PlayOLG coexists with private iGO operators in Ontario.

What the regulated market looks like

AGLC finalised its operating and advertising Standards ahead of launch. Here is what the regulated Alberta market looks like in practice.

  • No public bonus advertising

    Following the Ontario model, welcome bonuses, free spins and deposit-match offers are not allowed in public-facing marketing. Bonus content only appears inside an operator’s logged-in environment or through opt-in direct marketing. That means our Alberta pages follow the same rules as our Ontario coverage: no public bonus listings.

  • A registered-supplier list

    Game studios need separate AGLC registration as Gaming-Related Suppliers, just as they do under AGCO. Most major studios already on the AGCO list (Evolution, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, Play’n GO, NetEnt) have migrated quickly.

  • 18+ legal age

    Alberta’s gambling age is 18, unlike Ontario’s 19+ threshold. This is set by the provincial Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and was not changed by Bill 48.

  • Province-wide self-exclusion

    AGLC’s GameSense and self-exclusion programmes extend to the private operators, giving Albertans a single request that blocks them from the full regulated market.

Where Alberta stands now

Regulated, with offshore still accessible
Since 13 July 2026 Albertans can play at AGLC-licensed private operators as well as PlayAlberta, AGLC’s own platform. Offshore casinos licensed in jurisdictions such as Curaçao, Malta or Kahnawake remain accessible and are not banned, but they are not Alberta-licensed and disputes have no AGLC recourse. Our Alberta coverage prioritises AGLC-licensed operators.

Our Alberta coverage

AGLC operator picks
AGLC has published its register of approved operators and the first private operators went live on 13 July 2026. Our editorial team applies the same methodology used elsewhere on the site: real-money testing, withdrawal speed verification, support quality, and game catalogue depth. Alberta-specific recommendations will appear here as we complete each review. In the meantime, the authoritative source is AGLC itself, plus the Ontario page as a reference for the regulated experience.

Free, confidential help

  • Alberta · AHS Addiction Helpline
    Alberta Health Services runs a 24/7 free, confidential helpline for problem gambling, addictions and mental health support. Available in multiple languages.
  • Alberta · AGLC GameSense
    AGLC’s responsible-gambling programme. Tools, self-assessment, in-venue support and links to clinical services. Available at gamesensealberta.ca.

Players in Alberta must be 18 or older. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly and within your means.

Looking for Ontario?
The other Canadian province with a regulated iGaming market is Ontario. See our Ontario page for AGCO and iGaming Ontario details, what regulated operators look like there today, and the rule structure Alberta’s market mirrors.