Alberta’s regulated iGaming market officially opens its doors on 13 July 2026, marking a significant milestone for one of Canada’s largest provinces.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has spent months laying groundwork for the launch, processing dozens of licence applications from operators across the industry.
Of the 49 approved iGaming and sports betting operators, Super Group and Apollo Entertainment entities together account for just under a quarter of all licensed platforms, with 12 between them.
When Alberta updated its register on 12 June, Super Group held six entries: Grizzly’s Quest, Jackpot City, Royal Vegas, Ruby Fortune, Spin Casino, and Betway.
By the most recent update on 3 July, Grizzly’s Quest had quietly disappeared from the list, making it the only Super Group brand removed ahead of launch.
Notably, Grizzly’s Quest was the only Super Group-registered brand that featured cartoon imagery, distinguishing it from the operator’s other platforms.
The AGLC finalised its Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming document on 18 June, just days after Grizzly’s Quest had appeared on the licence register.
Section 4 of those rules states that advertising and marketing materials must not “use or contain cartoons, symbols, role models, social media influencers, celebrities or entertainers who would likely be expected to appeal to minors.”
The removal of Grizzly’s Quest may reflect an early commitment to compliance on both the operator and regulator side, even if the connection remains unconfirmed.
Super Group stated during its May earnings presentation that it was expecting and preparing for regulation in July, and its prediction proved accurate.
BetMGM has been taking pre-registrations ahead of the launch, while Betty has also confirmed its intention to be active from day one.
American giants FanDuel and DraftKings have both fixed plans to launch immediately, with DraftKings bringing its flagship sportsbook and casino product alongside its Golden Nugget online gaming brand.
To mark the occasion, DraftKings is planning a World Cup watch party in Calgary on 11 July, capitalising on the tournament being hosted across North America.
Greg Karamitis, EVP and GM of sports at DraftKings, said: “Alberta is home to a passionate sports fan base, and we’re excited to bring customers across the province our industry-leading sports betting and online casino experiences.”
He added: “Launching during one of the biggest moments in global sports, with the World Cup taking place across North America, makes this an especially exciting time to welcome Albertans to DraftKings.”
Dale Hooper, GM of FanDuel Canada, confirmed the operator’s day one entry and said: “As we plan to enter this new market, we’re committed to delivering a best-in-class entertainment experience and meaningful community engagement remains at the heart of everything we do.”
FanDuel Canada also announced an exclusive partnership with Light and Wonder alongside a renewed partnership with the Canadian Football League.
Most of these operators are not starting from scratch, as FanDuel and DraftKings both ran daily fantasy sports in Alberta’s previously grey market before regulation arrived.
Super Group was already accepting sports bets in Alberta via Betway, mirroring its position in Ontario ahead of that province’s regulation in 2022.
Betty enters the Alberta market as the most successful licensed Ontario brand by Blask’s competitive earning baseline metric, with a CEB of $405.5m versus bet365’s $254.9m in second place.
CEO Justin Park has been vocal about his ambition to scale Betty into a “global blue chip casino brand,” positioning the operator as one to watch in Alberta.
Converting pre-existing demand from Alberta’s grey market will be among the most critical objectives for every operator hoping to establish a dominant early position.
Discussions about this regulatory step began back in 2024, and after considerable planning and negotiation, the industry will soon discover who is best equipped to win in Alberta.
