Bill 48, also known as the iGaming Alberta Act, has successfully passed its second reading from its local lawmaking body. From here, Bill 48 will now move onto the committee review for further discussions and voting between local lawmakers. If passed, private online casino Canada operations will become available in Alberta, and its residents can participate in online gambling.
iGaming Alberta Act Plans to Regulate Online Gambling within the Province
Bill 48 was introduced last March by the United Conservative Party (UCP) and seeks to bring online gambling to Alberta. Its legislators have drafted Bill 48 similar to Ontario’s iGaming model, and provides residents with regulated online gambling options.
Alberta only has Play Alberta as its provincially regulated platform available operating under Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). If the iGaming Alberta Act passes, Alberta will become the second Canadian province to open its market to private operators.
Bill 48 also includes a provision to begin the new market with a centralized self-exclusion system in place. This tool allows gamblers to choose to ban themselves from every regulated online gaming site in one move. Currently, Ontario doesn’t have such a system, but one is in development between iGO, Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and IXUP.
Moreover, Bill 48 aims to boost their players’ safety when participating in online casino gaming within the province. Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally noted that a significant number of Albertans are being preyed upon by grey market sites.
Concerns over Bill 48 Clarifications
However, some lawmakers want to have some clarifications about Bill 48, namely, advertising standards and responsible gambling protocols. Nally responded to the critics, stating that further regulatory measures will be developed before launch including a centralized self-exclusion system. This is put to place to prevent vulnerable individuals from accessing licensed platforms and curb unhealthy gambling habits.
Furthermore, the Alberta government sees the initiative as a good opportunity to generate revenue for the province,
“Once the regulated market is established, Alberta’s government will be able to capture gambling revenues currently lost to unregulated sites often located outside of Alberta,” Nally added.
The iGaming Alberta Act now advances to the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause review. Local legislators will discuss whether amendments may be proposed before a third and final vote.