Alberta 90-Day Transition for Unregulated Gambling Sites to End

Alberta’s gray-market gambling operators face an existential moment tomorrow as the province ends its 90-day transition period.

So-called “gray-market” operators have until tomorrow (Oct. 13) to formerly acquire an Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) licence. The alternative option is to shut down operations entirely and exit Alberta.

Some operators, including Stake, have raced to go live before the hard deadline. However, there is still time for gambling sites to get their Operational Agreements over the line.

Stake Becomes Newest Regulated Alberta Gambling Site

Stake has been operating in the gray market in Canada for a number of years. However, with Alberta formerly launching regulated online gambling in July, it had a stark choice to make.

Stake Canada’s Kris Abbott said the company moved “faster” and “built bigger” than other operators. In getting under the wire before the Oct. 13 cut-off, it’s certainly meeting that first requirement.

While Stake was already a presence in Canada, it hadn’t even acquired an iGaming Ontario licence. With Alberta now a go, it will look to a future launch in Ontario, too.

Alberta’s Fledgling Regulated Gaming

• The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) launched regulated online gambling in July.
• State-run Play Alberta is still active but has competition from nearly 50 operators.
• Alberta betting sites must be licenced via an Operational Agreement with the AGLC.
• Many gray-area betting sites existed before and after Alberta going live. However, they have had a 90-day grace period to apply for a licence or leave the province.
• Grace period was handled on a case-by-case basis, based on the operator.
• Around 22 operators launched on Day 1, though that number is now over 40.

Stake’s Mixed North American Adventure

Stake has had a long presence across North America with its online casino, sportsbook and sweepstakes casino.

It’s operated an online casino and sports betting site in Canada as part of the country’s gray market. It also expanded into Mexico just as the World Cup kicked off there in the summer.

Stake.us operates an online sweepstakes casino in the U.S., though it has fallen foul of some states over its “unlicenced” sweeps model. Stake.us exited Illinois last month after threats from state regulators. 

Uncertain Future for Alberta Poker

The decision for prospective Alberta online gambling sites is clear: get a licence or leave. However, the choice for online poker sites is a lot less clear.

Under the new regulations, online poker is completely legal at licenced sites. However, poker sites have faced problems attracting players. As in U.S. states with naturally low player pools, Alberta needs to have sufficient player liquidity to survive.

Three months in, Alberta has failed to secure shared player liquidity with Ontario, Canada’s only other province with regulated online poker.

The Supreme Court in Ontario recently heard cases for and against shared player pools internationally. However, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) objects, saying that damages its own provincial markets. The future of Alberta’s online poker scene relies on Ontario winning the case.

There was more bad news for Alberta poker when it emerged that no new operators had entered the market in July. Offshore sites like PokerStars face exiting Alberta altogether until any shared liquidity deal is agreed.