Alberta Closes iGaming Grace Period With 29 Operators and 50 Brands Approved
Alberta's transition for formerly unregulated online gambling operators ended on 13 October. 29 operators and 50 brands were approved; the rest must stop serving Albertans.
Alberta's grace period for online gambling operators that served the province before regulation ended on 13 October 2026, with 29 operators and 50 brands approved. Operators that missed the deadline, including those still waiting for a decision, must stop taking bets from Albertans.
The province opened its competitive iGaming market on 13 July 2026, the second in Canada after Ontario. Operators already active in Alberta outside the provincial system got three months to register and sign up.
Who made it
Figures from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), reported on 14 October, put the market at 29 operators and 50 brands at the deadline. By the morning of 15 October, 30 operators were running 51 approved sites, and an AiGC spokesperson said the number could change again that day.
The numbers vary between reports because some count companies and others count sites: one operator can run several brands, and some groups list their casino and sportsbook separately. One operator alone runs seven casino brands in the province. The authoritative list is AiGC's registered iGaming sites directory.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 13 July 2026 | Regulated market opens; three-month transition starts |
| 13 October 2026 | Transition ends |
| 14 October 2026 | 29 operators and 50 brands reported approved |
| 15 October 2026 | 30 operators and 51 sites reported live |
Two approvals, then enforcement
Operating legally in Alberta takes two separate approvals: registration with AGLC, the regulator, and a commercial agreement with AiGC, which runs the market and keeps the list of approved sites. A pending application does not count, and neither does an Ontario registration or an offshore license.
AGLC says it will monitor compliance and act against operators still serving Albertans without approval. Its spokesperson, Lynden McBeth, said the agency has "several investigative options available" but would not describe them. Alberta's model largely follows Ontario's, where the AGCO has revoked registrations and fined operators for breaches.
The provincial government has estimated that about 70% of iGaming activity in Alberta took place with operators not regulated in the province, the market the transition was meant to bring inside.
"Alberta's regulated igaming market exists to protect Albertans," AiGC chief executive Dan Keene said.
Early results
BetMGM, which launched in Alberta on 13 July, said its per-player metrics in the province are trending above its Ontario launch, and its chief financial officer was reported as saying Alberta accounted for about 20% of the new players it signed in the third quarter. These are company figures, not market data.
What it means for operators
The deadline closed the grace period, not the market: new applicants can still apply, but cannot take Alberta bets before both approvals are in place. Approved operators carry a revenue share under the AiGC agreement, with 3% of gross gaming revenue set aside first and the remaining net revenue split 80/20 between operator and province, plus player-protection duties including centralized self-exclusion.
For a fuller look at what operators and suppliers need to check, see Szilaghi Consulting's analysis of Alberta's iGaming transition and its Alberta iGaming license guide.
How we got here
Alberta first opened consultation on private online gambling in 2024, followed Ontario's lead with legislation, and became Canada's second regulated online gambling market. Ontario, the first, opened in April 2022 and remains one of North America's top gambling jurisdictions.
Status reviewed on 23 October 2026. Operator and site counts change as approvals are added. More regulation news and North America coverage.
Frequently asked questions
When did Alberta's iGaming transition period end?
On 13 October 2026. Alberta's regulated online gambling market opened on 13 July 2026, and operators that had been serving Albertans before regulation had three months to move into the regulated system.
How many operators are approved in Alberta?
29 operators and 50 brands at the 13 October deadline, according to figures from AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation reported on 14 October. By the morning of 15 October, 30 operators were running 51 approved sites. The Alberta iGaming Corporation's registered-sites directory has the current list.
What happens to operators that were not approved in time?
They must stop accepting bets from Albertans until they are approved. AGLC says it will monitor compliance and has several investigative options against operators that keep serving the province, without saying what they are.
Can new operators still apply in Alberta?
Yes. The deadline ended the grace period for operators already serving Albertans; it did not close the market. New applicants need AGLC registration and an Alberta iGaming Corporation agreement before taking any bets.
