Alberta Sets 22% Tax on Sportsbooks and $200K Licensing Fees
Alberta is set to become the second Canadian province to open its sports betting market to regulated operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings. While an official launch date has not been set, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis recently published its Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming on January 13th, 2026.
Unlike the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the AGLC will act as both a regulator and an operator. Play Alberta is estimated to account for between 25% and 30% of iGaming play in the province, though that share could change once the best betting apps and top online casinos open their doors to customers.
Alberta iGaming Tax and Licensing Fees
The Canadian Gaming Association urged Alberta to follow Ontario’s sports betting model, where operators pay a 20% tax on non-adjusted gross gaming revenues.
Alberta appears to have taken things one step further.
The province will deduct 3% of gross gaming revenues (GGR) before tax. Approximately two-thirds of those deductions will go to First Nations funding, while the remainder will be dedicated to social responsibility initiatives. After that, operators will pay a 20% tax on their remaining GGR, equating to a tax rate of around 22.4%.
In order to join Alberta’s betting market, applicants will have to complete a two-step process. Operators will have to register with the AGLC and pay a one-time application fee of $50,000. If approved, operators must pay a $150,000 annual fee for each iGaming site they intend to run in the province.
Meanwhile, platform providers and gaming suppliers will pay an annual registration fee of $15,000, and other suppliers, such as payment providers, oddsmakers, and Independent Integrity Monitors, will pay $3,000 per year.
Casinos Will Be Able To Open Retail Sportsbooks
One major difference between Alberta’s market and Ontario’s is that land-based casinos will be able to team up with licensed iGaming operators to launch land-based sportsbooks.
Horse racing tracks and professional sports teams, including the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, will also be able to launch their own sportsbooks. That means NHL and CFL fans may soon be allowed to place their bets in the arena while watching their favorite teams in action.
It also opens up the opportunity for Albertans to see FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM-branded sportsbooks opening nearby.
Alberta’s move could pave the way for other Canadian provinces to launch regulated sports betting, with FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM ready to expand nationwide
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