The province’s new regulated online gambling market generated $56 million in gross revenue between its mid-July launch and the end of September, the government corporation overseeing the sector reported Friday. The Alberta iGaming Corporation said in a market performance report covering July 13 to Sept. 30 that the results reflect a “gradual onboarding of iGaming operators.” Non-adjusted gross revenue reached $22.2 million by the end of July, $43.3 million by the end of August and $56.6 million by the end of September. The report said 75.6 per cent of gross gaming revenue came from casino games, followed by sports and event betting at 19.5 per cent and live casino games at 4.9 per cent. The number of operators increased to 24 from 15 during the reporting period, while player accounts grew to 389,000 from about 270,000. The report said average revenue per player was $146. Alberta is the second province to officially allow private online gambling operators, after Ontario opened its iGaming market four years ago. Under the provincial model, two per cent of gross gaming revenue is directed to First Nations and one per cent supports problem gambling programs, resources and treatment. “Regulation matters,” Dan Keene, the chief executive officer of the corporation, said in a media release. “This is a market where approved iGaming Operators are held to high standards of accountability, and where revenue stays in the province to fund programs and services Albertans rely upon.” Before July 13, Alberta residents either used the PlayAlberta platform or gambled through offshore websites operating outside the province’s regulatory framework. When Alberta launched its regulated iGaming market, the province said its goals included strengthening consumer protections, promoting responsible gambling and enforcing age-verification requirements.
