Alberta Expects $76 Million Revenue from Online Gambling
Alberta’s government expects its upcoming regulated online gambling market to generate around $76 million in tax revenue during its first year, which, Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says, will be used to enhance responsible gambling measures.
“We know that gambling will never be safe, it will never be responsible,” Nally said. “But there are ways to make it a little safer, and there are ways to make it a little more responsible.”
At least 46 operators are expected to be ready when the market opens on July 13, including many of the big-name brands currently operating in Ontario, such as DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel.
As part of its new market, Alberta is also introducing new advertising restrictions and responsible gambling measures, including centralized self-exclusion. Licensed operators will also have to pay 1% of gross gaming revenue towards responsible gambling programs.
Ontario became Canada’s first province to launch a regulated commercial online gambling market in 2022, and has reported that around 90% of online gamblers in the province now use regulated sites.
Alberta’s officials hope their regulatory framework has a similar impact, reducing illegal gambling while increasing oversight and player safety.
