A New Oversight Entity: Alberta iGaming Corporation
At the heart of Bill 48 is the establishment of the Alberta iGaming Corporation, a Crown agent responsible for developing, organizing, conducting, and managing online lottery schemes on behalf of the Government of Alberta. The legislation ensures that the corporation’s activities will comply with the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act.
The corporation will be governed by a board of up to seven directors appointed by the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. An interim CEO may be appointed initially for a maximum term of two years, after which the board may appoint a permanent CEO with the Minister’s authorization.
Oversight, Compliance, and Accountability
Bill 48 provides the Alberta iGaming Corporation with broad operational powers while clearly defining its obligations. These include:
- Maintaining compliance with all applicable federal and provincial legislation.
- Promoting responsible gaming, including the development of self-exclusion tools and other harm reduction strategies.
- Entering into agreements with other provincial or territorial governments to jointly manage online lottery schemes.
- Submitting annual reports and audited financial statements to the Minister.
Importantly, all surplus revenues generated by the corporation are to be transferred to Alberta’s General Revenue Fund, subject to the Minister’s determination of what qualifies as surplus.
Strong Regulatory Boundaries
To reinforce public trust and market integrity, Bill 48 outlines specific restrictions:
- Only registered iGaming suppliers may operate or support iGaming sites in Alberta.
- Minors are strictly prohibited from participating in any iGaming activity.
- All advertising related to iGaming must comply with regulations, and contraventions may constitute offences.
- The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will retain a regulatory oversight role, particularly in areas such as supplier registration and compliance auditing.
Privacy and Transparency Measures
The legislation includes robust provisions regarding the handling of personal information. The Alberta iGaming Corporation may collect, use, and disclose personal information to provincial or territorial partners, provided such actions align with privacy legislation and the purposes of the Act.
Additionally, the Act mandates detailed access to operational records and documents for auditing and compliance monitoring, and assigns the Auditor General of Alberta as the official auditor of the corporation.
What This Means for Alberta’s Online Gaming Industry
If passed, Bill 48 will introduce a regulated, made-in-Alberta model for online gaming. The province would follow Ontario’s model in establishing a dedicated iGaming authority, allowing Alberta to shift gaming activity away from unregulated operators toward a transparent, locally governed framework.
This legislation represents a significant step toward a competitive, responsible, and secure iGaming market, with the potential to generate new provincial revenues and offer enhanced protections for Albertans who choose to gamble online.
If you have questions about Gaming and Gambling, we would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-604-1312 or https://segevllp.com/contact-us/.