Short answer
To offer online casino or sports betting in Alberta you need an AGLC registration as an iGaming operator (CAD 50,000 one-off application fee and CAD 150,000 per site per year) and a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC). Under that agreement 3% of GGR is set aside first (2% First Nations, 1% social responsibility) and Alberta keeps 20% of the remaining net revenue. Platform and critical-systems suppliers register for CAD 15,000 a year, other suppliers CAD 3,000. The market opened on 13 July 2026; case-by-case transitional relief for gray-market operators runs no later than 13 October 2026.
Alberta at a glance
- Regulator
- Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC): registration, due diligence, standards, self-exclusion
- Commercial counterparty
- Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), created by the iGaming Alberta Act to conduct and manage iGaming
- Primary law
- iGaming Alberta Act (Bill 48, passed May 2025) and the amended Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation (Alta Reg 2/2026)
- Market timeline
- Registration opened 13 January 2026; market launched 13 July 2026; case-by-case gray-market transition relief ends by 13 October 2026
- Market size
- About 40 operator sites registered by October 2026 (31 AiGC agreements signed by late September); H2 projects about CAD 1.7bn GGR in year two
- Products
- Online casino, sports betting, peer-to-peer poker (Alberta-only liquidity) and fantasy sports; political and election betting prohibited; iBingo not approved
- Minimum age
- 18 (Ontario: 19)
- PlayAlberta
- The AGLC-run site continues and now competes with private operators; it remains the only online seller of WCLC lottery products
Is Alberta the right license for you?
A good fit when
- You are already registered in Ontario and want to reuse that compliance stack: AGLC may take prior registrations into account
- You can run on 80% of net revenue after the 3% GGR set-aside
- You can hold a SOC 2 Type 1 at go-live and ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type 2 within two years
- You are a platform, game or critical-systems supplier to the operators entering Alberta
Look elsewhere when
- You want low fixed costs: CAD 150,000 per site is due every year, plus CAD 50,000 to apply
- Your acquisition relies on public bonus advertising or athlete endorsements, both restricted
- You want one license for all of Canada: Alberta covers Alberta only (see Canada overview)
Alberta license types
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iGaming operator registration | B2C operators hosting a site for Alberta players | CAD 50,000 application + CAD 150,000 a year, per distinct site |
| Goods or services supplier — platform and critical gaming systems | Platform providers, game and game-system suppliers | CAD 15,000 a year; no application fee |
| Goods or services supplier — other | E-wallets, oddsmakers, integrity monitors, accredited testing facilities | CAD 3,000 a year; no application fee |
| AiGC commercial agreement | Registered operators | Revenue share, reporting, AML coordination, complaints and go-live |
Alberta license costs and tax
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator application fee | CAD 50,000 | One-off, per site, on filing | AGLC fee schedule |
| Operator annual registration | CAD 150,000 | Per site, per year, on filing | AGLC fee schedule |
| Background-check deposit | CAD 10,000 (initial) | On application; topped up if costs exceed it | AGLC; amount may vary — confirm |
| Supplier — platform and critical systems | CAD 15,000 | Per year | AGLC fee schedule |
| Supplier — other categories | CAD 3,000 | Per year | AGLC fee schedule |
| First Nations and social responsibility | 3% of GGR | Ongoing, deducted first | 2% First Nations, 1% RG programs |
| Revenue share | 20% of net revenue | Ongoing, to AiGC | AiGC commercial agreement |
| Year-1 statutory minimum, one operator site | CAD 210,000 | Application + annual fee + initial deposit |
Fees are payable upfront with the application and are non-refundable. Each distinct site needs its own application and annual fee. Add the independent control audit, SOC 2 attestation, penetration testing, game certification by an AGLC-registered testing facility, and legal costs.
Tax
- Gambling tax
- No separate gaming duty: the AiGC revenue share is the provincial take
- Revenue share mechanics
- 3% of GGR first (2% First Nations, 1% social responsibility), then 80% operator / 20% Alberta on the remainder — about 22% of GGR in total
- Corporate income tax
- 23% combined on Canadian-taxable profit (15% federal + 8% Alberta general rate)
- GGR definition
- Bets placed less winnings paid less eligible deductions, as defined in the AiGC agreement
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Criminal Code (Canada), s.207(1)(a) | Province conducts and manages lottery schemes, the basis for the AiGC model |
| iGaming Alberta Act, SA 2025, c. I-0.2 (Bill 48) | Creates the Alberta iGaming Corporation and the competitive market |
| Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, RSA 2000, c. G-1 | AGLC powers; amended by Bill 48 to add iGaming registration |
| Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation, as amended by Alta Reg 2/2026 | iGaming supplier registration, self-exclusion, advertising and inducement rules (new Schedule) |
| AGLC Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming (January 2026) | Operating, social-responsibility, AML, technical and security standards |
| Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act | FINTRAC reporting obligations for online casinos |
Local substance and eligibility
- AGLC registration of the operating entity, with due diligence on owners, directors, officers and connected persons
- Executed commercial agreement with AiGC and AiGC go-live notice before taking deposits or bets
- No published requirement for an Alberta-incorporated entity; data stored or servers hosted outside Canada need AGLC review and approval
- Geolocation and VPN/proxy controls so only players physically in Alberta can play
- Integration with AGLC's centralized Self-Exclusion Program
- SOC 2 Type 1 at go-live; ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type 2 within two years; annual penetration testing
- RG Check accreditation (Responsible Gambling Council), kept in good standing
Entity types, capital, local agents, tax and timing: Canada company formation.
How to get a Alberta license
- Weeks 1–4
Scope sites and products
Decide how many distinct sites to register (each pays its own fees), the product mix, and the supplier chain that must also register.
- Weeks 2–8
Prepare the AGLC file
Corporate and personal disclosures, financials, standards gap analysis, technology compliance submission covering geolocation, and RG and AML programs.
- Week 8
File and pay
Submit to AGLC with the CAD 50,000 application fee, CAD 150,000 annual fee and background-check deposit. Processing is first-come, first-served.
- Weeks 8–20
Due diligence and compliance review
Risk-based suitability review; new entrants may have to file the Control Activity Matrix and independent audit before registration.
- Parallel
AiGC agreement
Negotiate and sign the commercial agreement covering revenue share, reporting, AML coordination and complaints.
- Pre-launch
Go-live readiness
Self-exclusion integration, SOC 2 Type 1, penetration test, Alberta-certified games, then AiGC go-live notice.
- Within 3 months
Post-launch filings
Operators licensed elsewhere file the Control Activity Matrix within three months of go-live; game certifications must be Alberta-issued.
Document checklist
Corporate
- Constitutional documents and group structure chart to the ultimate beneficial owners
- Registrations held in other jurisdictions (for example AGCO)
- Audited financial statements and source of funds
People
- Personal disclosure forms for directors, officers, key persons and significant owners
- Identity documents and criminal-record checks
- Background-check consents
Compliance
- Standards gap analysis against the SRIG
- Control Activity Matrix with independent audit results
- AML/TF program beyond the FINTRAC baseline
- Responsible-gambling, advertising and complaints policies
Technology
- Gaming site diagram and hosting/data-residency description
- Technology compliance letter, including geolocation and VPN/proxy controls
- Certificates from an AGLC-registered testing facility
- SOC 2 Type 1 report and penetration-test results
After the license
Annual fee
CAD 150,000 per site, every year.
Revenue share
Settlement and financial reporting to AiGC; AiGC publishes market revenue reports.
Advertising
No targeting of minors, self-excluded or high-risk people; inducements only on site or to opted-in players; athletes only for RG messages.
Player protection
Deposit, spend and time limits, reality checks, cooling-off, centralized self-exclusion; no credit to players.
Security
Annual penetration testing and technology compliance letters; ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type 2 within two years.
Notifications and AML
Event notifications to AGLC under the Notification Matrix; FINTRAC reporting and transaction monitoring.
Alberta compared
| Alberta | Ontario | Canada | Kahnawake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual gov. cost | CAD 150,000 per site | CAD 100,000 per site | CAD 100k (ON) · CAD 150k (AB) | ≈ US$20,000 (US$40,000 yr 1) |
| Tax on GGR | 20% revenue share + 3% GGR | 20% revenue share | 20% revenue share | 0% |
| Time to license | 4–6 months | 4–9 months | 4–9 months | 2–3 months |
| Local substance | AGLC registration + AiGC agreement | AGCO registration + iGO agreement | Provincial registration + agreement | MIT hosting |
| Status | Provincial (Canada) | Provincial (Canada) | Provincial | Offshore (Mohawk territory) |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Alberta gambling license — FAQs
How much does an Alberta iGaming license cost?
AGLC operator registration costs a CAD 50,000 one-off application fee plus CAD 150,000 per site per year, with an initial background-check deposit reported at CAD 10,000. Under the AiGC agreement, 3% of GGR goes to First Nations and social responsibility, then Alberta keeps 20% of the remaining net revenue.
Is the Alberta market open?
Yes. The regulated market launched on 13 July 2026, with about 40 operator sites registered and live by October 2026. Transitional relief for operators previously active in Alberta's gray market was granted case by case and was not expected to extend beyond 13 October 2026.
Do I need both AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation?
Yes. AGLC registration and due diligence make you eligible; the AiGC commercial agreement and AiGC go-live notice are what allow you to take deposits and bets.
Do I need a track record in a regulated market?
No fixed track-record requirement has been published. AGLC applies a risk-based review: operators registered in Ontario or other acceptable jurisdictions get a more streamlined process, while new entrants are treated as elevated risk and must file their Control Activity Matrix and independent audit before registration.
Do suppliers need to register?
Yes. Platform, game and critical gaming systems suppliers pay CAD 15,000 a year; e-wallets, oddsmakers, integrity monitors and testing facilities pay CAD 3,000 a year. Affiliates and most payment providers do not currently need to register.
Can I reuse my Ontario setup?
Largely. The model mirrors Ontario, AGLC may consider an AGCO registration, and AGCO game certifications were accepted for the first 90 days. Differences include the 18+ age, the higher annual fee, the 3% GGR set-aside and integration with AGLC's own self-exclusion program. See our Ontario guide.
Does a Kahnawake license cover Alberta?
No. Serving Alberta players requires AGLC registration and an AiGC agreement. See the Kahnawake guide for what that permit does cover.
Sources
Figures were checked against the regulator and legislation listed below on 10 October 2026. Fees, tax rates and restricted-market lists change; confirm with us before you commit capital.
- AGLC — iGaming registration (accessed October 2026)
- Government of Alberta — iGaming fact sheet
- Criminal Code s.207 — Justice Laws
- Blakes — Alberta's iGaming market: registration now open (19 January 2026)
- Gowling WLG — Alberta iGaming: July 13 registration deadline details (16 April 2026)
- Gowling WLG — RG Check and advertising controls (March 2026)
- Canadian Gaming Business — Alberta iGaming FAQ (3 July 2026)
- Casino.org — Stake approval and 13 October transition deadline (8 October 2026)
Find out if Alberta fits before you pay a fee
We screen the ownership chain, check banking and payment fit for your markets, and price the full year-1 cost before anything is filed. Then we incorporate, prepare the dossier and handle the regulator through to go-live.
Book a 30-minute ONJN feasibility call