Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) is touting its success in reducing regulatory red tape by 51%, making it less costly for companies in the liquor, cannabis, and gaming industries to do business in the province.
In a statement, the AGLC says their work in eliminating redundant AGLC regulatory requirements has resulted in over CA$89.2 million (US$60.6 million) in cost savings and revenue generation across all three industries.
In the gaming arena, the AGLC said in the statement they have removed nearly 2,500 pieces of regulations impacting casinos, including relaxing rules on table games, providing an estimated CA$2.4 million (US$1.6 million) in cost savings for licensees.
“This achievement highlights Alberta’s position as a national leader in reducing red tape and fostering a business-friendly environment,” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. “By cutting unnecessary regulatory burdens, we’re empowering industries to grow, innovate, and contribute to Alberta’s economy. This is just one example of our government’s commitment to supporting businesses, creating jobs, and ensuring Alberta remains a competitive and thriving place to do business.”
The announcement comes as Alberta is about to roll out a new igaming regulatory regime, which will open the market to private-sector operators, similar to what’s been place in Ontario since April 2022. Operators like PointsBet Canada, NorthStar, PENN, Betty, and Betway have already expressed interest in joining the market.
Nally has said the rollout for that new market will likely be fall 2025. AGLC will not be responsible for regulating the new gambling market.
AGLC’s Play Alberta is currently the only place Albertans can place a legal bet in the province, with a thriving gray market also till in place.
According to AGLC, with over 313,000 registered player accounts, Play Alberta, which launched in late 2020, has generated a projected $5.36 billion in total bets for 2023-24, and the site has captured over 45 per cent of Alberta’s overall igaming market (according to H2 Gambling Capital estimates, which the AGLC goes off of).
