In response to the spread of unregulated online gambling across the province and the subsequent lack of player protection and social responsibility measures, Alberta’s government passed the iGaming Alberta Act in 2025.
This legislation opened up the online gambling market to private operators under a licensed, regulated model, and paved the way for private Alberta gambling sites recommended by independent reviewers such as Casino.ca to join the Play Alberta platform. Crucially, the regulatory framework requires private iGaming providers to put player protection at the forefront of their operations.
Benefits of a regulated iGaming market
- Enhanced player safeguards and social responsibility measures.
- Strict rules on advertising, marketing, and promotions.
- Capturing higher tax revenues, which help fund programs and services in Alberta.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC)
The AGLC regulates multiple forms of gambling across the province, including casino operations and the Play Alberta platform. Its main focus is player protection and ensuring a consistently high rate of responsible gamblers. It does this through promoting responsible gambling and maintaining the integrity of all gaming activities.
Results show that responsible gambling compliance among Alberta players remains above 95% year-over-year, indicating the success of AGLC and its engagement with safer gambling tools and policies.
Responsible Gambling Compliance
The AGLC uses a combination of tools to ensure responsible gaming and uses operator self-assessments, compulsory reporting, system integrations, and independent audits to ensure adherence by operators and measure responsible gaming compliance among players. Key tools include:
Age Verification
All gaming operators must have a system to identify and exclude them under age gamblers. That means validating customer details and ensuring that any errors or inconsistencies result in the account being blocked.
Spending Controls
When players sign up for an online casino, or at any time after that, operators must provide the ability to set system enforced spending controls. These controls include:
- Deposit limits
- Loss limits over a chosen time period
- Time limits on gaming sessions
- 24-hour cooling-off period before the removal of any limits
Self-Exclusion Program
AGLC's Self-Exclusion Program aims to help players who have reached a point where gambling no longer feels like a game. The program aims to help players manage their gaming activity and enable them to change their behaviour.
Enrolling in the program means players can choose to self-exclude themselves from operators’ sites for a designated period of time. When combined with professional support, self-exclusion is shown to be one of the best ways to stop problematic gambling.
Responsible Gambling Initiatives
All operators must actively promote responsible gaming education to their customers. This involves the prominent display of responsible gaming information on its site, including lower-risk behaviours, tools and limits, and support services. Operators are also required to train staff in harm identification, response protocols, available resources and tools, and much more.
Most importantly, all operators must integrate AGLC’s compulsory responsible-gambling program, GameSense, into their platform.
What is GameSense
GameSense is AGLC’s responsible gambling program and is designed to give players the tools and resources needed to make more informed gambling choices. This includes information on how different games work, budgeting, the odds of winning, house advantage, as well as accessing resources and support.
If players have any questions or want to access additional safer gambling tools, there’s also an info line available to customers (1-833-447-7523), which connects them with a GameSense Advisor.
Key GameSense Tips
- Play for fun, not to make money
- Don't chase losses
- Know how the game works and understand the odds before playing
- Set a budget and stick to it
- Take regular breaks
- Set gaming time limits before you play
GameSense Awareness
In Alberta, the AGLC uses annual surveys to assess GameSense awareness amongst the public, and to evaluate their understanding of its program, including messaging, resources and tools. Over the last five years, awareness has nearly doubled, growing from 32% to 51%. An impressive figure that confirms the provinces responsible-gambling message is growing.
The Success of the AGLC
Over the last seven years, responsible-play rates in Alberta have remained between 95% and 98%. This proves the AGLC’s effective regulation and focus on education, safety, and oversight is successfully hitting its compliance goals. It also puts the province as a market leader in responsible gaming standards, not just in Canada, but globally.
This success provides a solid foundation for the expansion of their iGaming market as Alberta prepares to introduce licensed private operators to their Play Alberta platform. As gambling continues to grow in popularity and gain more media attention, there’s no doubt that maintaining a high compliance rate amongst a growing list of operators will require hard work and dedication going forward. However, by continuing to innovate, educate, measure, and monitor its evolution, the province looks set for considerable growth and a tax windfall that will benefit all Albertans.
