It has been confirmed that the Alberta iGaming market will largely mirror the framework of Ontario, as progress has been made in polishing the market’s regulatory framework.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has published the Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming, outlining the key components for iGaming in the Canadian province, including licensing fees, tax rates, advertising and player protection. Parts of the province’s iGaming direction had been known since spring last year, when the iGaming Alberta Act was passed.
Whilst a lack of clarity remains around the go-live date for the market, Alberta iGaming will be overseen in a similar fashion to the Ontario iGaming market, with the AGLC as the regulator and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) filling the role of the conduct-and-manage agency.
AGLC Vice President of Gaming Dan Keene is currently the AiGC’s interim CEO, with recruitment ongoing for other positions.
There will be a slight difference, as the AGLC will continue to operate Play Alberta, the only regulated iGaming platform currently operating in the province. However, that will soon change with the introduction of commercial licensed operators that are currently submitting their applications to the regulator.
Two-step entry process
With the application process now underway for operators and suppliers, a two-step process must be completed by interested parties to enter the Alberta iGaming market – register with the AGLC and sign a commercial agreement with the AiGC.
A one-time application fee of CA$50,000 and an annual registration fee per iGaming website of $150,000 must be paid to the AGLC. Platform and gaming system suppliers must pay a $15,000 annual registration fee, while other suppliers must pay $3,000 per year.
Although not mentioned in the standards, Canadian Gaming Business reported that the proposed revenue share rate is close to the 80-20 mark, with the province deducting 3% of GGR before taxing it.
First Nations will receive 2% of the total GGR, social responsibility initiatives will be given 1%, while 20% of an operator’s remaining GGR will go to the government.
Advertising restrictions
After registering and paying fees, Alberta operators will be able to begin advertising and signing up customers ahead of the market’s launch, but restrictions on how they can promote themselves will be in place.
Within the standards, it states that “advertising and marketing materials must contain a responsible gambling message”, while a government release noted that advertising must not target minors and pro athletes can’t be used to promote offerings.
Third parties that partner with licensed operators for direct-to-consumer marketing or player referral services must also not be working with any unlicensed operators.
Player protection
Alongside being integrated with Alberta’s centralised self-exclusion system and excluding self-excluded players from marketing, operators must also offer in-app tools to help players control their gambling. Additionally, responsible gambling materials must be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain up-to-date.
Operators must also prevent betting manipulation and be able to identify suspicious betting activity, reporting it to an Independent Integrity Monitor.
With progress now made on Alberta’s iGaming regulations, the next checkpoint for interested parties to look out for will be when the go-live date for operations in the province is announced.
