Alberta and Ontario are the only two Canadian provinces with regulated competitive online gaming markets where approved private operators can offer online casino games and sports betting alongside provincially operated gaming platforms.
Ontario launched its competitive market on April 4, 2022, while Alberta opened its market on July 13, 2026. Both provinces allow online casino gaming and online sports betting through approved operators, though the two markets are regulated differently.
Ontario's Online Gaming Market
Under Ontario's regulated market, private operators must register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario before they can offer games to Ontario residents. This structure allows multiple approved operators to offer Ontario online casinos alongside the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's online gaming platform.
Alberta's Online Gaming Market
Under Alberta's competitive regulated market, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) serves as the province's regulator, while the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) conducts and manages the market through agreements with approved operators. .
Once registered with AGLC and operating under an agreement with the AiGC, private operators can offer online casino games and sports betting within Alberta's regulated framework. Much like new Ontario casinos, which must register with the AGCO and sign an agreement with iGaming Ontario before launching, Alberta's operators must complete a similar two step approval process.
Comparing the Two Markets
Ontario online gambling has operated under a competitive market structure since 2022, giving it several years of operating history before Alberta's launch. Alberta is the second Canadian province to launch a competitive regulated online gaming market. Although each province has its own regulatory framework, both require private operators to register with the provincial regulator and enter into agreements before offering games. While the regulatory frameworks differ, both provinces separate regulatory oversight from the entity responsible for conducting and managing the market.
Online Sports Betting
Regulated online sports betting is available in both provinces through approved operators as part of their broader online gaming markets. In Ontario, sports betting operators work under the same AGCO registration and iGaming Ontario agreement required for online casino games. In Alberta, approved operators may offer online sports betting under the same AGLC registration and AiGC agreement framework used for online casino gaming.
