What’s the game plan for iGaming Alberta?
Rebekah Jackson
Director of Gaming
Alberta’s shift to a regulated iGaming model marks a major expansion of Canada’s digital gaming sector, bringing stricter expectations for identity verification, fraud prevention and compliance from launch. As the market evolves, you can have confidence that we support over 65% of licensed operators in Ontario, helping them meet FINTRAC‑compliant KYC requirements at scale while maintaining a seamless onboarding experience.
With extensive experience working with leading gaming operators worldwide, including Betty Gaming, Entain and Bet99, we deliver the reliable, high‑pass‑rate verification infrastructure operators need in fast‑growing, highly regulated markets. Our global gaming expertise, market‑specific data coverage and advanced fraud controls position operators to enter Alberta confidently, reduce friction and verify legitimate players quickly.
So, what’s the best operator game plan for iGaming Alberta?
All to play for in Alberta
Alberta’s regulated iGaming market is expected to launch in 2026. The government has finalized its regulatory model and begun accepting operator applications, while allowing pre‑registration activities by companies like PointsBet and BetRivers.
The province passed Bill 48 (iGaming Alberta Act) in spring 2025, creating the legislative backbone for opening the market. This was followed by detailed regulatory amendments in January 2026.
Despite having a smaller population than Ontario (4.9 million vs 16 million), the Alberta iGaming market looks set to give Ontario a run for its money.
Ontario’s licensed iGaming operators generated just over CA$4 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025, driven by approximately CA$98.3 billion in wagers, a 34% year over year increase.
Figures from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) show that government run gaming operations generated CA$1.49 billion in net gaming revenue in 2024–25, with Play Alberta contributing CA$275 million in 2025.
This underscores the sizeable opportunity awaiting private operators when Alberta’s regulated iGaming market opens
“We support over 65% of licensed operators in Ontario, helping them meet FINTRAC‑compliant KYC requirements at scale while maintaining a seamless onboarding experience.”
Who is regulating iGaming in Alberta?
Alberta will regulate its new iGaming market through a two agency model that mirrors Ontario’s “conduct and manage” structure. This approach separates regulation from market operation, ensuring strong oversight while enabling private sector participation.
1. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC): the regulator
The AGLC will continue to serve as Alberta’s official gaming regulator. Responsibilities of the regulator include vetting and registering operators, enforcing responsible gambling, advertising, integrity, and compliance standards and ensuring all entrants meet the requirements of the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act. The province’s 2026 iGaming framework and official releases reaffirm its authority in protecting players and maintaining market integrity.
2. Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC): the conduct & manage agency
The AiGC, created under the iGaming Alberta Act, will serve as the commercial conduct and manage agency for the new market, operating much like iGaming Ontario. It will oversee how the iGaming market runs, manage commercial agreements with operators, and ensure all private operators meet Alberta’s safety, compliance and responsible gaming standards.
Before going live, operators must register with AGLC, pass all due diligence and compliance checks, and sign a commercial agreement with AiGC.
What does this mean for KYC?
To operate in Alberta’s regulated iGaming market, operators must meet strict KYC standards that ensure every player is fully verified before an account can be created. This means all relevant player information must be collected, stored and validated at the point of registration and operators must be able to demonstrate its accuracy.
At a minimum, Alberta requires the following information:
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Full legal name exactly as it appears on FINTRAC compliant government issued ID - Note: Provincial healthcare cards are not accepted.
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Date of birth, matched and verified against FINTRAC compliant identification.
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Physical residential address that meets FINTRAC standards - Only physical addresses or legal land descriptions are permitted.
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A secure login identifier, such as a unique username, for future authentication.
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Player contact details, including a valid email address and phone number.
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All information and results of due diligence measures required under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and its associated regulations.
How boost player pass rates?
Improving player pass rates in a regulated market starts with high quality data coverage and verification methods designed for accuracy and scale. Several proven approaches help operators onboard more legitimate players while meeting strict compliance requirements:
Complete credit search
Using secure identity data enables operators to match player data across multiple sources, increasing verification accuracy and improving pass rates at onboarding. Drawing from broader, more reliable datasets helps reduce friction and ensure players can be verified quickly and compliantly.
Mobile data verification
Mobile based identity checks provide an additional high quality data signal, helping confirm player information and strengthen overall match rates. Mobile verification is widely adopted by leading operators in Canada and supports fast, low friction onboarding.
Location intelligence
Accurate, validated address data is essential in meeting FINTRAC standards. Enhanced location intelligence improves match success, reduces failed address checks and supports smoother onboarding flows.
Trust and fraud controls
Advanced trust signals and real-time fraud detection help operators identify risky behaviour early, protect against fraud rings and ensure only legitimate players move forward.
Global data coverage
Access to expanded datasets reduces false negatives and helps operators verify more players on their first attempt. GBG Go supports higher pass rates, especially in diverse markets with varied data footprints.
GBG Go provides operators with a pre‑built, Alberta specific journey template that’s compliant out of the box, helping accelerate time‑to‑launch.
Win Canada market share
Now is the moment to secure the onboarding infrastructure required to win early in Alberta. Equip your launch with high quality data coverage, fast and accurate player verification and market ready compliance controls that scale with demand.
Verify every genuine players with complete identity data and win Canada market share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Operators must verify players before account creation using internal company processes. Mandatory data includes legal name, date of birth, residential address, valid contact details, a secure login identifier and all information required under PCMLTFA. All data must be matched, validated and stored to meet regulatory standards.
Strong pass rates require high quality data coverage and modern verification methods. Approaches such as complete credit searches, mobile based verification, high accuracy address validation, expanded data coverage and real-time fraud prevention significantly increase match success and reduce friction.
While the regulatory framework mirrors Ontario’s model, operators must align their onboarding flows, verification processes and reporting to Alberta’s requirements. Using adaptable, scalable KYC technology allows operators to deploy efficiently across both provinces while meeting each market’s specific standards.
