Back in April 2022, Ontario became the first Canadian province to launch a fully regulated online gambling market. Now, Alberta is looking to do the same. The province’s government has introduced Bill 48, which is also known as the Alberta iGaming Act. If this comes into effect, it will establish the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will focus on protecting people from gambling harm.
There are dozens of regulated online casinos people in Ontario can access, including minimum deposit casinos where you can make deposits of just a few dollars. If Alberta goes ahead and launches its own regulator, people in the province will eventually have just as many casino sites, if not more, to choose from.
Details About the New Bill
The bill will include various measures and proposals designed to promote safe, responsible gambling and prevent underage people from accessing gambling sites. It will launch new measures to safeguard people, including the vulnerable, from gambling-related harms. One of these is a central self-exclusion system that would allow people to easily block themselves from gambling sites.
As for Alberta iGaming Corporation, this new entity will oversee the participation of private operators within the province’s regulated online gambling market. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis will continue to act as the regulator.
It’s not currently known when the bill will officially come into effect. However, the government seems intent on introducing it sooner rather than later, especially given how positively a similar one in Ontario has been received. If it does pass, it should have wide-ranging benefits for people who gamble over the internet in Alberta. They will be part of a safer, more protected industry that can address any needs they may have more efficiently and effectively.
Reasons for Creating the Bill
The government of Alberta is keen for the bill to be passed because of the benefits it will bring. Consumers will have better protections and instead of gambling at unregulated, potentially dangerous sites, they can do their online gambling at regulated sites instead. Furthermore, there will be more ways in which consumers are protected from gambling harms. They should also be able to access help and resources more easily.
Once the bill’s in effect, a lot of gambling revenue that would have previously gone to unregulated operators will now go to the government. It can then use this new revenue stream to fund important and useful projects throughout the province. Some of the money will also be used to promote responsible gambling and prevent short- and long-term problems related to gambling.
While the government will no doubt earn a significant amount of money from regulated gambling, setting up the bill isn’t purely about making money. The aim isn’t to grow the number of gamblers and treat the industry as a profit-making business. Instead it’s about making sure those who do gamble are protected and know how to be sensible when gambling online. Earning revenue is a bonus and the money will go to good causes, but ultimately it’s about making online gambling safe.
Sources:
https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/28862/alberta-proposes-new-igaming-legislation
