Alberta Moves Closer to Legal Online Casinos and Sports Betting in 2026

Alberta is progressing steadily toward launching a regulated online casino and sports betting market, opening the door for private operators to offer legal iGaming services within the province. The Alberta iGaming Corporation, the regulatory body established by recent legislation, is preparing to oversee this new market, expected to go live as early as early 2026.

Under the new framework, Alberta’s model will resemble Ontario’s successful regulated environment, which has attracted a large number of global operators in recent years. In Ontario, bettors and casino players already have access to numerous licensed platforms, and many popular online casino brands, such as 888casino, BetMGM, Betway, LeoVegas, NorthStar Bets, JackpotCity, and Bet99, operate within or alongside the regulated ecosystem.

The province’s push toward formal online gambling alternatives reflects an effort to transition activity away from unregulated or offshore “grey market” sites, while offering enhanced consumer protections and responsible gaming measures. Alberta’s government is actively recruiting industry experts for the new governing board, which will help shape operator licensing, revenue management, and safe gaming policies ahead of the anticipated 2026 launch.

Additionally, Alberta already allows regulated sports betting through its provincial platform and sees interest from major global sportsbooks such as bet365, which are expected to expand further once the legal framework fully rolls out.

This industry shift marks one of the most significant developments in Canadian iGaming, as provinces refine their regulatory approaches to support a competitive and secure online gambling market across the country.