Ontario's Market Success Sets the Stage for Alberta's Upcoming Launch

Nine in ten players in Ontario choose legal platforms. Here's how this has paved the way for Alberta, which opens its own regulated market on 13 July 2026.

Nine in ten Ontario players now choose legal Ontarian online casinos after the province legalised its gambling market. Alberta is watching closely.

Its own regulated gambling market launches on 13 July 2026, and Ontario's successful results are just the inspiration and evidence of the right path for the government.

Ontario’s successful shift to legal gaming

Ontario’s legal online gambling market opened in 2022 with one straightforward goal. The government wanted to pull players away from unlicensed sites and give them somewhere safer to play. Four years on, that has largely worked.

New Ipsos research, commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario, shows that 91.1% of local gamblers choose to play on legal, regulated platforms.

That’s a 7.4% jump over 2025’s results. Back in 2022, about 70% of players chose to play on unregulated platforms and illegal casinos.

In other words, 9 out of 10 Ontarians wager on regulated sites. Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey called the results 'clear' and labelled the province as ‘an international leader in upholding a safe, competitive, and regulated online gaming market.’

A fair reading of the numbers, considering how the upgraded framework becomes a great option that protects players and tackles the illegal market.

Ontario's gambling market and Alberta's upcoming launch — The gambling market regulation in Ontario is a huge success. Will Alberta be able to follow this?

AGCO’s CEO, Dr Karin Schnarr, pointed to the shift as evidence of the strength of Ontario’s gambling regulations and their focus on player protection, as regulated sites offer tools like play limits, safety checks, and self-exclusion from casinos that unlicensed platforms simply don't provide.

She also added that it's encouraging to see more Ontarians choosing regulated sites, while iGaming Ontario’s President and CEO, Joseph Hillier, chimed in, describing the data as proof that Ontario is successful and effective in balancing protection and choice.

Alberta is next

Ontario's track record has given Alberta's government a clear template. The province becomes Canada's second regulated iGaming jurisdiction when its market goes live on 13 July 2026.

According to officials, regulated online gambling would give Albertans a choice while also enhancing protections and curbing illegal gambling.

At the same time, it will follow Ontario’s lead in recapturing lost taxes. Ontario has managed to recapture a big portion of illegal gambling dollars, which bodes well for Alberta.

Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction of Alberta, believes that the government has a responsibility to act.

Nally states that it’s clear online gambling is alive and well, and a government can either pretend it’s not there or take a different approach.

He believes that their responsibility is towards the citizens, and their task is to make online gaming as safe and responsible as possible. Something that can only happen in a regulated environment. He also reminds that now over 65% of gambling happens on illegal sites.

What the Alberta iGaming launch means for players

As Alberta moves towards online gambling regulation, 28 operators have already received approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC).

Players will have a competitive range of choice from day one, which includes some of the biggest sportsbooks and online casinos in Canada, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, BallyBet, and BetRivers.

Several operators plan to launch multiple brands. Caesars is bringing three, namely, Caesars Palace Online, Caesars Sportsbook, and Horseshoe Online Casino.

Some Super Group brands listed for Alberta include Spin Casino, Betway, and Jackpot City. Canadian-owned companies entering the market are CasinoTime, Betty Gaming, and Pure Casino Entertainment.

Behind the operators, the AGLC has also approved 22 Critical Gaming Service Providers, which include big names like IGT and Light & Wonder. The government estimates that the regulated market could potentially generate CAD $100 million in annual tax revenue.

Alberta players will benefit from the same protections Ontario has, including safe platforms to choose from, mandatory responsible gambling tools, and support should something go wrong.

Responsible Gambling & Play Safe — Gamble RESPONSIBLY. At CasinoWow, we're dedicated to responsible gambling and we provide you with many resources to help you play safe.

CasinoWow will cover the launch, the operators, and what players can expect as the market develops. The real test, though, will be about four years later, when we will be able to tell whether the province matches Ontario's 90% legal market success.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: June 17, 2026

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Ontario's market success sets the stage for Alberta's upcoming launch

Ontario’s successful shift to legal gaming

Alberta is next