The gambling landscape of the west Canadian province of Alberta is about to change- for the better. In the latest pay per head news, lawmakers in Alberta recently passed Bill 16, which is known as the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act. The Bill received Royal Assent, which now makes the terms of the bill part of the law. What does Bill 16 mean for Sports Betting and iGaming in Alberta?
Bill 16 contains a number of amendments to existing laws covering different industries. However, some of them include changes in the gambling industry in Alberta. Let us take a look at the amendments relevant to our industry.
Sports Betting and iGaming in Alberta
Currently, residents can bet on sports through Play Alberta, the province’s only gambling platform. There are no retail sportsbooks in the province aside from select retail locations under one provincial operator. In addition, only single-game wagers are allowed, so it is quite limited compared to what you can find in a sportsbook.
Likewise, online gambling is only available through Play Alberta. There, players can choose from casino-style games like online slots and virtual table games, live dealer games, instant and lottery games. All of this is under the tutelage of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). The variety of products being offered are quite limited, especially when you operate in a population of $4 million people. This comparison of bookie pay per head services can give you insight on what products you can find on online gambling sites.
What Bill 16 Means for Alberta Gaming
One of the amendments clarify that the AGLC is not the sole party that can conduct and manage gambling activities. Many industry experts take this as a clue that Alberta will likely adapt a model similar to that of Ontario, who currently has a competitive gambling market with over 40 gambling operators.
Should this happen, the province can now establish more competition with more operators offering online sports betting and iGaming to the public. With the success of Ontario’s gambling market, which generated $2.7 billion in revenue for online gambling in Q1 of 2024 alone. Now, Alberta can now start developing local policy to adapt something similar. You can also do this, by building your very own online sportsbook and casino. Read up on this guide explaining What is a Bookie, and find out more.
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