The Canadian state of Alberta is planning to launch an online gambling offering next year, it has been revealed.
Alberta is one of just two states in Canada which does not offer some form of iGaming. However, plans to change this were included in the 2020 budget.
Modernisation
The launch of an iGaming product forms part of Alberta’s plans to add fairness to multiple revenue streams.
A technology provider for this platform will be chosen through a request for proposals (RFP). It’s hoped that a solution will be picked by the middle of this year, with a view to launching in mid-2021. These dates, however, are yet to be confirmed.
Regulation of the online gambling product will be the responsibility of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). This organisation already overlooks land-based gambling in the province.
Gambling figures in Alberta
For the fiscal year ending on 31st March 2019, gambling revenue here reached CAD $1.45 billion. As things stand, the only regulated verticals are land-based casinos, lottery, video lottery and racing entertainment.
The current fiscal year ends on the final day of this month, with those figures expected to drop to CAD $1.41 billion. And for the 2020-21 fiscal year, that’s predicted to decline further to CAD $1.39 billion.
But it’s expected that a roll-out of online gambling here will reverse those slips. If things go live in mid-2021, the 2021-2022 fiscal year is expected to generate $1.45bn. That’s expected to rise to $1.47bn in 2022-2023.
Online gambling moving forward in Canada
Once Alberta’s product is launched, all Canadian provinces except for Saskatchewan will offer some form of iGaming.
Some provinces are now looking to expand their online gambling industries. For example, Ontario is hoping to introduce single-event sports betting by April 2019. It also expects to end the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG)‘s monopoly in the channel by the same date.
Elsewhere, a bill to introduce countrywide single-event sports betting was proposed in February.
