The Canadian province of Alberta is postponing the launch of its regulated iGaming market, according to the according to the Press Secretary of the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally.
In June, during the Canadian Gaming Summit organized by SBC, Nally discussed Alberta’s plans for online gaming and expressed interest in an open-market model similar to that used in Ontario.
Since then, speculation about a potential launch date has increased. However, in an interview with Canadian Gaming Business, Nally’s Press Secretary Brandon Aboultaif confirmed that plans will still be presented in 2025, but the office needs more time for discussions with stakeholders.
Aboultaif commented: “As the gaming industry continues to evolve globally and in Alberta, we want to ensure a conducive business environment while protecting the health and safety of Albertans, particularly our youth. We want to get our igaming strategy right by ensuring fairness and transparency to everyone.
“Industry stakeholders have told us that we need to continue our conversations so they can provide more input on the model. We are doing just that. Further engagements will also help to identify opportunities to align the strategy with our red tape reduction priorities.
“While we aim to put the strategy forward in 2025, we will continue to provide updates as this work unfolds.”
Anticipated launch dates for Alberta’s online gaming market have ranged from early next year to late 2025, in time for the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup in November.
However, Paul Burns, CEO and President of the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), told Canadian Gaming Business that such a timeline was unrealistic given what was needed for the regulated market to go live.
Burns noted: “I think there was a growing concern about just how they were going to get everything done in the time required. I think the government is evaluating its timelines and making sure they can meet all of the objectives they’re setting out for themselves, and they’re giving themselves a few more months to be able to do the work.”
Although some consultations, including meetings with Alberta’s First Nations, have been completed, many other discussions with stakeholders still need to be held, as well as cabinet-level decisions and approvals.
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has recommended that Alberta authorities adopt some elements of Ontario’s iGaming model, but it is also important to include land-based operators in the discussions.
Decisions need to be made regarding the management of the province’s online gaming market. Nally stated in June that the provincial Minister of Justice would be responsible for Alberta’s online gaming market, rather than the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Agency.
Burns also told Canadian Gaming Business that Alberta also needs to examine the Ontario Superior Court lawsuit involving the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) as it featured “some of the best language and direction and case law on conduct and manage we’ve ever seen in terms of its plain language and its approach”.
The CEO of CGA believes that Alberta can effectively organize compliance if it carefully analyzes this lawsuit, which ultimately ruled against the MCK’s claims, stating that the Ontario iGaming framework is “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Burns added: “The timeline has paused but I don’t believe there’s any less commitment to getting this done. I just think there’s a very good commitment to getting it right. There’s a lot of work to do. They recognise that, they understand that and they’re taking more time to get it right. That’s the encouraging part.”
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