New Alberta Bill Proposes Legal Online Gambling Expansion
Alberta has announced plans to establish a regulated online gaming industry through the creation of a new crown corporation, the Alberta iGaming Corporation.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:This proposed corporation would be responsible for overseeing and managing online gambling activities in the province and work in collaboration with private-sector operators. Regulatory oversight of the market would remain under the jurisdiction of Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC).
Alberta to Offer iGaming to Other Provinces
The new legislation, titled the Alberta iGaming Act, also includes provisions allowing the Alberta iGaming Corporation to operate online gaming services for other Canadian provinces and territories.
Dale Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, has spoken of the province’s focus on improving safety rather than increasing gambling activity.
Our goal is not to create new gamblers, but to make existing online gambling safer. As the gaming industry continues to evolve globally and in Alberta, it is important that we modernize Alberta’s approach to gaming to protect the health and safety of Albertans, particularly our youth. The legislation we are introducing, if approved, would take the first steps towards this.
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Improving Player Protection in the Province
Key aspects of the bill include a ban on operating or advertising unlicensed online gambling platforms. It also proposes the implementation of responsible gambling features, such as a centralized self-exclusion tool for players seeking support.
Adam Kates, vice-president of compliance at theScore, has given his support to the initiative. He praised the introduction of a regulated marketplace in Alberta and said that they “are fully supportive of a model that has proven to generate new revenue, protect consumers, and shift wagering activity to the regulated market”.
Currently, PlayAlberta, operated by the AGLC, is the province’s only authorized online gaming site, though various private platforms are accessible to residents.
The Alberta government stated that opening the market will allow it to reclaim revenue currently lost to unregulated operators. The Alberta iGaming Act received its first reading on Wednesday, March 26.
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