Q1 2026 Launch Planned for Online Alberta Sports Betting Open Market

• Canadian Gaming Association CEO Paul Burns says there are plans for Q1 2026 launch of open iGaming market in Alberta
• The online sports betting market in Alberta may have a similar look and feel to that of Ontario
• The launch of an open iGaming market in Alberta could open the door for DraftKings, FanDuel, and others

Buckle up Alberta, your province could be less than a year away from an open sports betting market with all your favourite sportsbooks in tow.

Canadian Gaming Association CEO Paul Burns spoke at the NEXT NYC conference recently and said that plans for a regulated iGaming market in Alberta were taking shape and the province could see a full launch as early as Q1 2026. The news comes after much speculation as to whether the Alberta sports betting market was going to open the door for private sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel this year.

When Will Private Sportsbooks Join the Alberta Sports Betting Market?

Burns has indicated that private sportsbooks could join the Alberta sports betting market in Q1 2026. The road to an open market for Alberta sports betting apps has been a rocky one with multiple launch dates set in the past, most recently Q4 2024, to no avail. Things haven’t been made easier with the recent tariff spat between the United States and Canada, so it remains to be seen exactly how the sports betting sector may be impacted.

As it stands right now, there is only one legal online sportsbook that Alberta bettors can use: PlayAlberta. This government-run sportsbook has a sports betting license through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). Unfortunately it’s not the best sportsbook around in terms of betting options and there are many Alberta sports bettors who have turned to “grey area” sportsbooks that are technically not legal or illegal in the province.

What Sportsbooks Will Join the Open Alberta Online Sports Betting Market?

Now that we have an idea of when an open iGaming market might be arriving in Alberta, sports bettors in the province want the answer to one big question: who’s coming?

The answer is likely all the usual suspects: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, theScore Bet, among others. It’s easiest to look at the Ontario sports betting market for comparison, where all of the sportsbooks just listed are active in the province.

In fact, Burns even went so far as to say the open Alberta iGaming market could be structured similarly to that of Ontario. That could also mean no inducements for private sportsbooks operating in Alberta, just like Ontario, but there is nothing set in stone pertaining to whether the province would go that route or if they’d give sportsbooks more flexibility to market their offers and products freely.

It will also be interesting to see if any private sportsbooks end up striking deals with local professional teams such as the NHL’s Calgary Flames or Edmonton Oilers or even the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders or Edmonton Elks. There will certainly be plenty of room for negotiations between now and early 2026, so there’s still time to see some partnerships come together.

What Are the Benefits of an Open Alberta Sports Betting Market?

Apart from the obvious benefit of giving Alberta sports bettors more options when it comes to their overall wagering experience with great promos and more competitive odds, an influx of private sportsbooks could also help boost the provincial economy in a significant way.

Alberta might be quite a bit smaller than a province like Ontario with a population of only about 5 million vs. Ontario’s 15 million, but the gambling revenue they could make would still be quite large. If Alberta does indeed follow in Ontario’s footsteps at a tax rate of 20%, an economic boost would be more than likely for Wild Rose Country.

While there are still many hurdles to get through before Q1 2026, make sure to keep it locked with SBD for the latest news and updates surrounding the launch of private sportsbooks in Alberta.