Alberta has followed in the footsteps of Ontario and become the second Canadian province to launch a regulated iGaming market.
The much-awaited launch has been in the works for years, but those plans have finally come to fruition. However, while Alberta’s iGaming market officially launched on July 13, it may take a few weeks for operators to fully roll out their products in the province.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new iGaming landscape in Alberta.
Alberta Launches Regulated iGaming Market
Alberta has just launched its own, regulated iGaming market, allowing gambling operators to offer online poker, casino and sports betting products in the province. Inspired by Ontario’s successful launch in 2022, over 50 operators registered to AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) to provide their services to Albertans.
But the transition to a regulated market is not going to be an instant, overnight change. With a population of less than five million residents, liquidity is a major issue in Alberta. Any operator launching an Alberta-specific platform would likely struggle with attracting a sufficient number of players to the site in the early days, which would have a detrimental impact on the poker games.
As such, AGLC has allowed for a three-month period where operators can transition over to the regulated market. In the meantime, Albertans can still play on international versions of poker sites, but from October 13, 2026, operators must have either fully launched their Alberta platforms or completely exited the market.
Summary – Key Dates
- July 13, 2026: Alberta officially launches its regulated iGaming market.
- July 13, 2026 – October 13, 2026: For most operators, Albertans can continue to play on international poker sites.
- Post October 13, 2026: Any operator must have launched their Alberta-specific platform or exited the market.
- Late 2026 (Shared Liquidity): Shared liquidity with Ontario has yet to be confirmed, but plans are underway to implement it and a shared network is expected.
Which Operators are Available in Alberta?
So, which operators are actually launching in Alberta and how can you still play on them? Let’s go through some of the biggest names in poker, and explain more about each one’s specific situation in Alberta.
PokerStars in Alberta
The industry’s most well-known poker brand has been available to Albertans via the international PokerStars site. Stars confirmed it will continue poker operations in Alberta following July 13, but its casino and sportsbook products are not part of their ongoing plans and will be removed from the province.
| Status | PokerStars |
|---|---|
| Pre-July 13 | Accessible via international site |
| Current Status | Accessible via international site |
| What’s Next? | PokerStars Alberta will soon launch |
Nothing immediately changes for PokerStars players. They can continue accessing online poker via the global PokerStars site, however, this will soon change when PokerStars Alberta launches. When it does, Albertans will only be allowed to play on the Alberta platform, which will be fully regulated but also ring-fenced (hopefully, with players from Ontario).
We’ll give you more information on the transition across to the new platform as soon as we get it.
GGPoker in Alberta
GGPoker is another industry heavyweight. Championed by Toronto-born Daniel Negreanu, it has provided online poker to Canadians for several years, but it’s chosen not to continue operations in Alberta.
| Status | GGPoker |
|---|---|
| Pre-July 13 | Accessible via international site |
| Current Status | No longer available in AB |
| What’s Next? | Not expected to launch soon in AB |
GGPoker has somewhat surprisingly chosen to not apply for a license in Alberta. It means all operations in the province ceased on July 13, with GGPoker or Casino no longer accessible to Albertans (even via the global platform).
That’s not to say GG will never return to Alberta. The plan might be to wait out the ring-fenced stage, and launch if or when shared liquidity (with Ontario) becomes available – as it did with GGPoker Ontario.
PartyPoker in Alberta
One of the longest-running online poker sites, PartyPoker is staying in Alberta. At present, residents can continue playing on the international PartyPoker site, but a new PartyPoker Alberta site is expected to launch in the coming weeks.
| Status | PartyPoker |
|---|---|
| Pre-July 13 | Accessible via international site |
| Current Status | Accessible via international site |
| What’s Next? | PartyPoker Alberta will soon launch |
Like with PokerStars, PartyPoker players will not see an immediate change following July 13. They can continue accessing the global Party site from Alberta, but once PartyPoker Alberta launches, they’ll only be able to play via the dedicated platform.
888poker in Alberta
888poker was one of the first companies to speak about a potential launch in Alberta. The worldwide gambling company confirmed its ‘excitement’ at the prospect of entering the regulated Alberta market, but implied a launch would depend on whether shared liquidity with Ontario will be permitted.
Players in Alberta can continue playing on the global 888poker site, with 888poker Alberta expected to launch in the coming months.
| Status | 888poker |
|---|---|
| Pre-July 13 | Accessible via international site |
| Current Status | Accessible via international site |
| What’s Next? | 888poker Alberta likely to launch, but not yet confirmed |
Again, nothing changes immediately for 888 players. Albertans can continue using the international versions of the three 888 products. While it’s likely 888poker Alberta will launch over the next three months, 888 might be waiting for shared liquidity with Ontario to be confirmed before committing to the market. No information has been given regarding 888casino and sport in Alberta.
Will Alberta Share Liquidity with Ontario?
It is likely that Alberta and Ontario will be permitted to share player pools for all operators’ poker products. However, as of July 2026, shared liquidity is not available.
Both provinces are actively working on an agreement that would allow Alberta and Ontario to share player pools, similar to the multi-state internet gaming agreement (MSIGA) we’ve seen implemented in the US poker model. The move would make sense, with a lot of similarities between how the iGaming rollout has played out across both regions. If an agreement is made, it will allow for larger fields, greater general liquidity and larger MTT prize pools.
No date for shared liquidity has been confirmed, but an agreement is set to be made ‘as soon as possible.’ While there’s no guarantee it will happen, at the time of writing it seems strongly likely an agreement will be made.
If so, it will be very significant. Several operators that have confirmed interest in launching in Alberta might be holding off to see if shared liquidity comes to fruition. Alberta is home to around 4.2 million residents, whereas Ontario’s population is 14 million. A combined player pool would make launching in Alberta a much more commercially viable and attractive proposition.
Poker in Alberta Timeline
Like in many regions where the legality of poker has been debated, Alberta’s history with the game has been long and complex. Here’s a full rundown of exactly how we got to the point of a regulated, online poker market.
- 2001 – First Regulated Gambling Site Launches: PlayNow (British Columbia) launches Canada’s first regulated gambling site, setting a precedent for regulated online gambling in Canada. Alberta at this point does not have any regulated operators.
- 2001-2020 – Gray Market Period: Alberta remains without regulation, instead operating as a gray market where residents can access international poker sites that are not locally regulated in the province.
- October 2020 – PlayAlberta Launches: PlayAlberta launches as the first regulated online gambling site in Alberta, allowing players to access regulated online casino and sportsbook products. Poker is still not offered, though.
- April 2022 – Ontario Launches its Regulated iGaming Market: Ontario becomes the first Canadian province to fully launch a regulated iGaming market offering online poker, casino games and sports betting to the region. Alberta remains operating in a gray market, but keenly observes the Ontario model.
- May 2025 – iGaming Alberta Act Passed: Alberta passes Bill 48 (iGaming Alberta Act), which sets in place the legal framework for regulated online gambling products to enter the province, including poker.
- Early 2026 – AGLC Opens Registration: Alberta regulator, AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis), officially opens registration for gambling companies to apply to launch in the province. Over 50 companies register to do so.
- July 13, 2026 – Alberta Launches iGaming Market: Alberta officially launches its iGaming market, allowing operators to launch online poker, casino and sports betting in the region. It follows in the footsteps of Ontario, becoming just the second Canadian province to introduce a regulated competitive iGaming market.
- 2026 Onwards – Push for Shared Liquidity: After launch, the focus quickly shifts to cross-province shared liquidity with Ontario. If permitted, it will make the Alberta market a more enticing prospect for operators to enter, and could be pivotal in shaping the future of iGaming in Canada.
Online Casino Situation in Alberta
As for online casinos, the new regulated iGaming market in Alberta similarly allows operators to launch Alberta-specific casino brands. Unlike poker, though, liquidity does not affect the quality of the games, as the likes of blackjack, roulette and slots are played against the house, rather than other players.
At the time of writing, Bet365 Casino Alberta and BetMGM Casino Alberta have launched in the province. Both offer a strong catalogue of online casino games on industry-leading software, which now operate in Alberta’s regulated market.
While some casino sites have opted to exit Alberta, several more operators are expected to enter the market in the coming weeks. At PokerNews, we’ll keep you updated on the situation as the market evolves.
Alberta iGaming Launch FAQs
When was online gambling regulated in Alberta?
Online gambling became regulated in Alberta on July 13, 2026, when the province launched its iGaming market. Previously, a gray market existed where Albertans could play on international sites that weren’t locally regulated.
Is online poker legal in Alberta?
Yes, online poker is now fully legal and regulated in Alberta. Starting October 13, 2026, Albertans will no longer be able to play on international poker sites, though, and instead must play on Alberta-specific poker products.
What poker sites will launch in Alberta?
Some major names in poker plan to launch in Alberta. These include PokerStars and PartyPoker. Others, like 888poker, are tentatively waiting to see if and when shared liquidity between AB and ON is permitted before committing to a launch. GGPoker, on the other hand, has not registered to launch its services in Alberta at this time, though this could change in the future.
What is the best poker site for Alberta players?
This could of course change when sites launch their AB platforms, but it’s hard to see past PokerStars Alberta as a top pick. Expect all the same high-quality software, a large variety of poker formats and huge tournament series, which have been a staple of the site’s offering in other regions.
Can I still play online poker on international poker sites in Alberta?
For the time being, the previous gray-market situation remains, as poker operators have a three-month period of grace to launch their Alberta platforms. This, for the most part, means Albertans can continue playing on international poker sites until 13 October, 2026, at which point residents will have to transfer across to Alberta-specific platforms.
Is there shared liquidity between Alberta and Ontario?
As of July 2026, there is no shared liquidity between AB and ON, but plans are in the works and shared liquidity is expected to be rolled out later in the year.
Ben Weiss
SEO Specialist