Alberta Directs iGaming Revenue to Gambling Addiction Help

Alberta is directing new funding toward gambling addiction support services. The province published a request for expressions of interest on Monday, Aug. 10. Officials want organizations to deliver services for people affected by problem gambling. The funding will come from revenue generated by Alberta's regulated iGaming system. That platform officially launched in July 2026, opening the market to private operators.

These new supports are meant to supplement existing government-run addiction programs. Alberta's Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction confirmed the funding source in a written statement.

How iGaming Revenue Funds Addiction Support

The province's regulated iGaming system allows private operators to offer online betting and casino games. Under the framework, the province takes a 20% cut of each operator's revenue. Of that share, 1% is set aside for social responsibility initiatives. Those initiatives include addiction services and public education campaigns, according to the ministry.

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction said the new programs aim to strengthen existing support services. It issued a statement saying nobody should struggle with gambling addiction alone. Officials framed the funding as part of a broader responsible gambling strategy tied to the market's rollout.

Existing Support Programs and the Province's Risk Warning

The new funding will not replace programs already run through Recovery Alberta, which oversees mental health, addiction, and correctional health services across the province. Existing programs include a 21-day bed-based treatment program for addiction recovery. The province also operates hotlines for people seeking help with gambling problems. Officials say the new funding will add capacity alongside these existing resources.

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally has said the regulated system aims to protect residents. Nally has pointed to unregulated, offshore betting sites as a key risk factor.

He has also acknowledged that the shift could lead to more gambling addiction cases.

The government has framed the additional funding as a response to that possibility.

The 2025 Cut to a Problem Gambling Nonprofit

This new funding request follows an earlier decision affecting gambling addiction services. In early 2025, Alberta ended a three-year funding contract with a nonprofit group. The Problem Gambling Resources Network had received government support since 1993.

That cut removed close to $130,000 in annual funding for the organization. Its executive director said the loss represented 95% of the group's budget. He said the funding cut could force the network to shut down entirely. Four disability advocacy groups lost similar government contracts around the same time. Combined, those cuts totaled roughly $920,000 across all five organizations. The earlier funding cut came more than a year before this month's announcement.