Alberta, Canada: Expansion of the Online Gambling Market Will Reduce Illegal Operations

After passing Bill 16 in May, the province of Alberta plans to open up the online gambling market to private operators, following the success of Ontario, which generated $2.4 billion in its first year. The move is attracting big operators like DraftKings and FanDuel, which will create a more competitive market.

Currently, the only legal site in the province is Play Alberta, operated by the AGLC, which offers casino games and sports betting. However, 55% of the market is still controlled by illegal platforms. Alberta aims to change that by opening up the market to private operators while ensuring safety and regulation.

Expanding the market will allow Alberta to regain control over illegal operations, increasing revenue for the budget. The implementation of a self-exclusion system, as in Ontario, will be an important element of protecting players, and reducing the risks of addiction.