Alberta Prepares Action Against Unlicensed Online Gambling Sites

Alberta plans to take action against online gambling operators that continue serving the province without a license after the October 13 transition deadline. The province is coming close to the three-month grace period for operators that had been around before Alberta began to regulate the iGaming market.

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Dale Nally, the minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction in Alberta, revealed that the government would be determined to employ all means possible to ensure that the unregulated gambling sites do not enter the market.

Nally did not identify the exact enforcement measures Alberta will use, saying the government did not want to give unlicensed operators advance information. However, he indicated that the province could use tools that have not previously been applied in this area.

Grace Period Ends on October 13

Alberta opened its regulated online gambling market on July 13. Operators that had already accepted bets from Alberta residents before that date were given a case-by-case 3-month window to register, pay applicable taxes and fees, or leave the province.

The transition period will end on October 13. Nally said Alberta had delayed enforcement while existing operators worked through the registration process with Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.

After the deadline, the province plans to focus on operators that remain active in Alberta without the required license. The government said its objective is to prevent unregulated sites from operating in the new regulated market.

The province’s approach gives operators who have been serving Albertans before July 13 time to move into the regulatory system. The end of the grace period will mark the point when Alberta begins applying enforcement measures against sites that have not completed the transition.

Nally said the government intends to use every available option to address operators that continue to offer online gambling without registering with the provincial regulator.

Enforcement Options Considered

The minister said Alberta may consider sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed operators. He also said the province could target payment processors that handle transactions connected to the sites.

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Both approaches have been used by several U.S. states. Nally described them as options Alberta will explore once the transition period ends.

The government may also look at Google, Apple, and social media platforms as possible points of pressure. These companies could be relevant to the availability of unlicensed gambling apps and online advertising.

Nally did not state which measures would be used first or provide a schedule for enforcement after October 13. The province has instead said that it will use the tools available to prevent unlicensed online gambling operations from continuing to serve local players.

The enforcement plan comes as Alberta continues to develop its private online gambling market. The provincial government has not disclosed how many unlicensed operators may still be serving Albertans as the deadline approaches.

Licensed Market Expected to Grow

Nally said the number of licensed gambling sites is expected to increase from around 35 to about 60 by the October 13 deadline. The Alberta government had reported 31 regulated sites as of September 14.

Betway, operated by Super Group, was among the brands that recently completed the transition into Alberta’s regulated market. Regulator officials said additional brands are expected to go live in the coming weeks.

At least some operators that were previously active in Alberta have told the commission they will leave the province instead of seeking licenses. Nally has said the market could eventually support as many as 70 operator sites.

The October 13 deadline will determine which formerly unregulated operators move into Alberta’s licensed market and which leave or face enforcement action. The province said players can confirm whether a brand is registered with the provincial regulator before creating an account.

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Source: RG.org