Alberta’s Sports Betting Negotiations: The Waiting Game Continues

Sports enthusiasts in Alberta had high hopes for expanded betting options in 2022, but it seems that their dreams are still on hold. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) made a promising announcement last December, stating their intention to allow two private operators to run sports betting, with the possibility of mobile extensions, at major sports venues across the province. However, the names of these operators remain a mystery.

Originally, the Request For Proposals (RFP) process was supposed to conclude on January 31, but it was extended until February 14 to give operators more time to submit their bids. Since then, regulators have maintained radio silence. “We’re continuing to work through the negotiation process. However, we’re still expecting to make an announcement this fall,” reassured Karin Campbell, AGLC’s manager of communications.

What makes Alberta’s approach unique is its decision to limit the market to only two private sportsbook operators initially. This move was touted as a way to expedite the introduction of private sports betting services in the province. “By opening retail sports betting up to two proponents now, AGLC is able to bring this service to sports fans in Alberta earlier in 2022,” explained President and CEO Kandice Machado during the December news conference.

However, with the NFL season already underway and the NBA and NHL regular seasons set to open soon, it appears that Alberta’s regulators are unlikely to meet their goal of expanding sports betting options this year. Fans had envisioned the excitement of placing bets during events like the Labour Day Classic or the Battle of Alberta, but it seems they will have to wait a bit longer.

Before the December announcement, the AGLC had preliminary discussions with four professional sports teams in the province about setting up sportsbooks in their respective venues. But without any news on winning vendor bids, the prospects for additional sports betting options by year-end appear bleak.

Currently, AGLC’s PlayAlberta website stands as the only legal online sportsbook in the province. SPORT SELECT, operated by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, is also available for local retail sports bettors.

So, what’s causing the delay? Industry insiders cite several reasons. “There’s a lot of interest, but there are a lot of challenges with the RFP,” said one source. “The stakeholders that could be allowed to participate in the retail sportsbook or mobile extension, they had asked the government for something different.” They had proposed forming their own partnerships and then letting the government regulate to introduce more competition. This approach has raised concerns and is considered a roadblock in the negotiations.

Unlike other provinces in Canada, except Ontario, which uses government-owned lottery and gaming corporations as the sole legal providers of sports betting, Alberta’s two-operator approach stands out. Ontario has fully embraced private expansion with its regulated iGaming and sports betting market. By April 4, there were already 40 online gambling sites live in the province, with that number expected to rise.

The population of Alberta, with around 4.5 million people, makes it the fourth-most populous province in Canada. A 2020 survey revealed that Albertans spend over $100 million (CAD) annually on offshore sports gambling websites and daily fantasy sports operators. These new private operators will have to contend with the existing gray market and provincial gaming corporations.

One industry source suggested that Kambi, which powers many popular U.S. sportsbooks, would be a natural fit for AGLC in Alberta. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation, which operates PlayNow online gambling platforms in Manitoba and British Columbia, and will soon launch in Saskatchewan, is also seen as a contender for a winning bid. Rumors also suggest that PointsBet, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel have expressed interest, although none has confirmed their participation.

Notably, the AGLC is part of a coalition of five provincial gaming corporations that are taking a stand against illegal online gambling. They are calling on the federal government to collaborate with provincial jurisdictions to protect Canadians from black-market operations and are protesting the use of “free-to-play” advertising tactics by illegal operators.

The dream of expanded Alberta sports betting remains just that—a dream, for now. Sports fans will have to keep waiting, hoping that their province’s regulators can iron out the challenges and bring them the thrill of legal sports betting in the near future.

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