Alberta Updates Regulations Ahead of the Online Gambling Market Opening

Legalisation of Online Gambling in Alberta

Alberta’s regulatory body, AGLC, has released a document outlining the main updates to standards and requirements for the online gambling sector. These shifts affect all business segments, including private iGaming and sports betting ventures.

While the core licensing framework remains unchanged, the amendments focus on enhancing bookmaker and casino security and assessing operators’ capacity to safeguard consumer information.

Revised Regulations for Data Protection

One of the core updates concerns the deadline for receiving the SOC 2 Type 1 (System and Organisation Controls) certification. As outlined in the AGLC’s revised document, the attestation must be completed before an independent audit and the start of official operations, rather than after the formal launch. The protocol is designed to evaluate how effectively companies protect sensitive information.

Canada’s Business Development Bank noted that this certification serves as a cybersecurity compliance framework, outlining how organisations can safely store and process user data.

This approach allows for:

• proactive detection of potential threats;
• mitigation of risks related to asset protection;
• a swift response that prevents data breach incidents.

Another initiative focuses on adjusting how niche requirements apply across different operating environments. Industry participants are required to design their portals to ensure maximum flexibility in internal processes while maintaining strict adherence to established security standards.

iGaming Market Launch: Outlook

The regulatory updates were introduced less than a month after the initial document with industry rules was published, underscoring Alberta’s intent to refine the core principles of its market in the near future.

No official launch date has yet been approved. At present, PlayAlberta, the state-owned monopoly, remains the sole legal operator offering iGaming services. Authorities have previously suggested that the market opening could align with the forthcoming football season, though this timeline has not been formally confirmed.

At Gaminator, we provide end-to-end support for the development and launch of online entertainment projects in regulated jurisdictions. Our experts will gladly assist you with licensing, software integration, and the creation of a robust business plan that complies with legal standards.