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The Growth of Online Casinos in Alberta Amid Changing Provincial Regulations
Alberta has announced plans to permit private companies to operate online gambling platforms. This regulatory shift follows Ontario’s successful model, where private gambling websites coexist with government-run platforms. Alberta’s initiative aims to move beyond the current monopoly held by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) through its Play Alberta website. With the introduction of Bill 16 in April 2024 by Minister Dale Nally, the provincial government’s authority to manage and conduct gaming in Alberta has been clarified, paving the way for a regulated and competitive
online gambling market.
The current online gambling market in Alberta is predominantly controlled by Play Alberta, which is estimated to hold 45% of the market share. Despite this, unregulated online gaming sites still account for approximately 55% of Alberta’s iGaming market. Bill 16, also known as the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, aims to reduce this unregulated market by officially permitting and regulating private online gambling operators. This move is expected to align Alberta’s online gambling practices with those of Ontario, the only Canadian province that currently allows privately owned gambling websites. In Ontario, more than 50 regulated private operators manage 80 gambling
websites.
Revenue and Economic Considerations
The fiscal impact of online gambling in Alberta has been significant. In the first quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year, online gambling revenues reached $726 million, up from $540 million in the prior year. Since its launch in October 2020, Play Alberta has taken around $5.36 billion in total bets over 12 months ending March 31, contributing $234 million to Alberta’s general revenue fund. This financial input highlights the potential benefits of expanding the market to include multiple operators.
Ontario’s experience showcases the economic benefits of a regulated and competitive online gambling market. Ontario’s iGaming sector has contributed CA$2.7 billion to the province’s GDP and created almost 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the second year after its inception. A report by Deloitte revealed that Ontario’s market had hit or nearly reached many of its year-five projections within two years, offering a promising benchmark for Alberta as it makes regulatory changes.
One challenge Alberta may face is integrating self-exclusion infrastructure across online gambling sites. Experts like Dr. Nigel Turner emphasize the importance of responsible gambling practices. Unlike Alberta, Ontario currently lacks provincewide self-exclusion tools and mandatory limit-setting, which Alberta is considering implementing. Minister Dale Nally has indicated that Alberta aims to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment by introducing these tools, aligning with the goal of reducing the unregulated market and ensuring player safety.
Private Operators Entering Alberta’s Online Gambling Market
The entry of private operators, such as FanDuel online casino, is expected to reshape Alberta’s online gambling market. Increased competition from private operators will likely lead to more gaming options and better technologies, improving the user experience. Ontario’s model demonstrates the benefits of a competitive market, including the reduced influence of unregulated offshore sites.
The inclusion of operators like FanDuel presents substantial growth opportunities for Alberta’s online gambling sector. FanDuel’s presence will expand the selection of games and enhance user experiences, contributing to increased provincial revenues through regulated activities. This aligns with Alberta’s objective of fostering a secure and responsible gambling environment while capitalizing on the economic advantages of a well-regulated market.
Economic and Job Growth Projections
Canada’s online casino industry is on track to surpass $2 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2024, nearly tripling from the $750 million recorded in 2020. This growth has spurred job creation, with over 25,000 direct jobs expected in 2024. As more Canadians engage with online gambling, economic contributions from this sector continue to expand, impacting industries such as software development, customer support, marketing, and finance.
Approximately 20 million Canadians, or about 50% of the population, engaged with online casinos at least once in 2024, a significant increase from 10 million in 2020. This growing user base highlights the widespread adoption of online gambling. In Alberta, per-capita gambling spending is notably high, with many participants using unregulated sites. The province aims to draw these funds into the regulated market, ensuring that online gambling activities occur within safe and legal frameworks.
Regulatory Framework and Consultation Process
The Alberta government has initiated consultations to develop a comprehensive strategy for the future online gambling market. These discussions involve key stakeholders, including casinos, racing entertainment centers, and First Nations, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered. A primary goal of these consultations is to create a framework that promotes safety, responsibility, and economic benefits for the province.
Minister Dale Nally has emphasized that opening the market will only proceed once a robust regulatory framework is in place. This cautious approach aims to eliminate the influence of unregulated offshore gambling websites, ensuring that all activities are subject to provincial oversight. An independent administrator, similar to iGaming Ontario, is planned to oversee the commercial market in Alberta.
The revenue split between Alberta’s government and private operators remains under discussion. In Ontario, the provincial government takes 20% of revenues from regulated gambling websites, contributing $790 million in taxes last year. This model may offer insights into potential revenue-sharing arrangements in Alberta, balancing the need to attract private operators with the goal of maximizing public revenues.
Challenges and Opportunities in Alberta’s Online Gambling Market
Alberta’s move toward a regulated online gambling market faces the challenge of attracting private operators who may hesitate to share player information with AGLC, the operator of Play Alberta. Private operators have expressed reluctance to disclose data to a direct competitor. Addressing these concerns will be essential for building a competitive and dynamic market.
Alberta’s high per-capita gambling spending underscores the potential for regulated online gambling to channel more funds within the province. By capturing this existing gambling activity through regulated channels, Alberta can enhance player safety while generating significant economic benefits.
Conclusion
Alberta’s transition toward a regulated online gambling market is poised to generate significant economic growth and job creation, while enhancing player safety and responsible gambling practices. By following Ontario’s successful model, Alberta has the potential to build a competitive, secure, and regulated iGaming environment. As the province finalizes its regulatory framework and addresses challenges like data-sharing concerns, it can unlock the benefits of a growing iGaming market while protecting both players and the public interest. Alberta’s careful approach ensures that this shift benefits the province’s economy while safeguarding players from unregulated sites.
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The bizarre story of Taro Tsujimoto

The National Hockey League (NHL) has seen its fair share of strange moments, but few compare to the bizarre and hilarious tale of Taro Tsujimoto, a player who never existed. His “selection” in the 1974 NHL Draft remains one of the most legendary pranks in hockey history. If you want to wager on actual players, making the 1xBet app download is definitely a great idea.
In the 1970s, the NHL Draft was a much less glamorous event than today. It was a tedious process conducted over the phone, with teams calling in their picks. The 3 biggest highlights of what happened during that year’s draft were:
- the draft dragged on for hours;
- there were multiple rounds and teams selecting unknown prospects from obscure leagues;
- frustrated with the monotony, Buffalo Sabres general manager Punch Imlach decided to have a little fun.
As the 11th round approached, Imlach instructed his team’s representative to draft Taro Tsujimoto, a supposed forward from the Tokyo Katanas of the Japan Ice Hockey League. The name sounded authentic enough. The league officials, unfamiliar with Japanese hockey, accepted the pick without question. By downloading the 1xBet app you will also be able to wager on great NHL teams too.
A small problem
There was a small problem with all of this, as 2 things didn’t exist: Tsujimoto and the Tokyo Katanas. Imlach had completely fabricated the player as a joke, taking advantage of the NHL’s lack of verification. When it comes to NHL wagers, there is no better platform than the 1xBet Canada site.
For weeks, the league listed Tsujimoto as an official draft pick, and even some newspapers reported on Buffalo’s mysterious new Japanese prospect. Eventually, the Sabres admitted the hoax, and the NHL was forced to retroactively erase the selection from its records.
Despite being a fictional player, Taro Tsujimoto took on a life of his own. Buffalo Sabres fans embraced the prank, and over the years, his name has become a cult legend in hockey culture. Some fans even wore jerseys with “Tsujimoto” on the back. The joke persisted so much that when EA Sports released NHL video games, players could occasionally find Tsujimoto in the game’s draft pool as a hidden Easter egg.
More than just a prank, the story of Taro Tsujimoto highlights 2 things: the quirks of old-school sports management and the creativity of one of hockey’s most colorful executives. Today, with the draft process being highly scrutinized and broadcast live, such a prank would be impossible. But Tsujimoto’s legacy lives on as one of hockey’s greatest inside jokes. What is not a joke are the great rewards that a platform like the Canadian 1xBet site can give you.
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60% of Canadians gamble each month – why the industry is going from strength to strength

When it comes to regulating gambling, Canada has a somewhat relaxed approach. The Canadian Gaming Association oversees the industry, but it’s up to individual provinces to enact and enforce any laws relating to online casino gaming, sports betting, traditional casino gaming, and other forms of gambling.
Canada’s online casino gaming laws are not totally clear, but individual provinces are starting to put this right. Ontario was the first and did so when it launched its own regulated igaming market in April 2022. Now some other provinces have followed suit, creating a safer igaming environment for players in those provinces. Below is a look at gambling in Canada compared to other parts of the world, at gaming laws in Alberta compared to other provinces, and at the future of the Canadian, US, and UK gambling industries.
Canada: a forever love of gambling
Gambling in some form or other has always been popular in Canada. Way back in the 1990s, research found six in ten Canadians (60%) gambled every month. Additionally, four in ten (43%) spent between 1 and 20 Canadian dollars on gambling. Fast forward to today and the Canadian gambling market is worth 14.2 billion US dollars as of January 2024, according to data on the website of consumer and market data company Statista.
It seems Canada enjoys wagering just as much as two other countries that love a gamble: the US and the UK. Data on the Statista website shows that 49% of US adults took part in gambling activities in 2023. Fifty-six percent said their attitude towards gambling had relaxed, compared to the 50% of 2019.
The UK returned similar stats for the same year. Forty-eight percent of adults reported engaging in gambling activity. Online casinos generated the most gross gambling yield in 2023, but it was the nation’s National Lottery that people played the most.
Alberta: following Ontario’s lead
The regulatory developments in Ontario have triggered movement in Alberta. In May 2024, Bill 16, the Red Tape Reduction Amendment Act, made it through the process and later received Royal Assent to become law. The act removes the monopoly of gaming by a single government entity and will allow private operators, licensed by Alberta’s provincial regulator, to provide online gaming services in Alberta, meaning players will have a choice of more than one Alberta online casino to play at.
The regulation transforms Alberta into one of the more liberal provinces when it comes to online gambling, others being Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
Several provinces, such as Novia Scotia and Northwest Territories, have no provincially regulated online gaming sites. Some also restrict betting on horse racing and/or other types of sports betting, obliging citizens to use international betting sites for freedom from caps and betting on as many events as they wish.
What lies ahead for the Canadian, US, and UK gambling industries?
Canada’s appetite for gambling is clear, and the industry’s online sector is beginning to thrive. Ontario has enjoyed vast success by creating its own regulated market, one which, in just its first year, saw Canadians place billions in wagers and the industry itself generate more than a billion in total gaming revenue.
Canada can expect to see other provinces follow Ontario’s lead and allow private operators to provide services in the province under license. The purpose of the regulation is player protection. Any province that develops a regulated market will focus on this, so there will also be regulations around the advertising of gambling services.
The US
Gambling online is the future for the US, too, although states are slow to legalize it. As of September 2024, 38 states had legalized sports betting, following the US Supreme Court’s ruling that states could regulate sports gambling directly.
Despite allowing sports betting, some states only permit in-person betting, and only a few states allow online casino gaming. Operators believe online casino gaming is the future of gambling.
The UK
In the UK, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will get bigger and bigger. Companies have realized AI can enhance players’ experience and are embracing it more and more. For instance, sports betting websites can use it to crunch data and provide iGamers with stats and other data to make better betting decisions. They’re also understanding they can use AI to prioritize content players are likely to be interested in and to personalize their offerings and services to players’ preferences.
Canada enjoys gambling as much as America and the UK. Although laws around igaming are more of a grey area in Canada, some provinces are clearing the issue up by creating regulated markets and experiencing great success. As time goes by, more are sure to follow.
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