Alberta is preparing to take action against online gambling entities that operate without a license in the province after the deadline of October 13. The province opened its regulated online gambling sector on July 13, granting existing operators a three-month grace period to comply with licensing requirements. This grace period concludes on October 13, after which Alberta will turn its focus to unlicensed operators in the market.
According to Service Alberta and Minister of Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally, Alberta possesses a range of enforcement tools aimed at halting operations of these unregistered businesses. However, Nally did not disclose specific details regarding the enforcement strategies to be used.
One strategy under consideration includes issuing cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed platforms, as well as similar actions against payment processors that handle transactions for these operators. Nally mentioned that larger technology and social media companies, such as Google and Apple, could also be targeted to reduce the presence of unlicensed gambling apps and related advertising.
As of October 13, the number of licensed betting websites in Alberta is anticipated to increase from approximately 35 to around 60. Some operators currently active in Alberta have signaled to regulators that they do not intend to apply for licenses and will instead exit the province. Nally assured that the regulated market is capable of accommodating up to 70 operators in the future.
