Get ready, Alberta! The province is gearing up to launch its own competitive, regulated online gambling market later this year, bringing big names like bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel into the fold. This is a massive shift from the current single-operator system (Play Alberta). But here’s the clever part: Alberta isn’t aiming to be first; it’s aiming to be *better* by learning from Canada’s iGaming pioneer, Ontario.
Ontario bravely blazed the trail in April 2022, becoming the first province with a similar regulatory framework. While successful, with around 50 authorized operators now, Ontario faced some growing pains along the way. Alberta is wisely observing these experiences and incorporating lessons *before* its market even goes live, potentially sidestepping early missteps.
How will Alberta improve? For starters, new rules require all operators to cease any unregulated activity immediately. This means a much tighter leash on “gray market” operators, preventing the extended transition period that allowed some to linger in Ontario. The goal is to quickly bring everyone into the regulated, safer market.
Player protection is also a priority from day one. Alberta plans to launch with a **centralized self-exclusion system**, a feature Ontario is still working to implement fully. This means if you decide to ban yourself from one site, you’re automatically blocked from *all* regulated sites in the province, a crucial step for responsible gaming.
Furthermore, Alberta has clear rules regarding refunds for self-excluded players. These rules aim to prevent players from exploiting self-exclusion to cancel losing bets, a loophole that emerged in Ontario. By clarifying these standards upfront, Alberta ensures fairness and integrity from the start.
Being second might just be the winning strategy. By leveraging Ontario’s journey, Alberta is poised to offer a more secure and streamlined online gambling experience right out of the gate.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/alberta-sports-betting-igaming-rules-200100707.html
