Stake Secures Alberta iGaming License, Plans Oct. 12 Launch

Alberta's grace period for gray-market iGaming operators ends Oct. 13, and Stake plans to enter the regulated market one day earlier. Unregistered operators still serving Albertans will face enforcement once the deadline passes.

Stake Canada Ltd. has secured a license from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) and expects to be fully operational on Oct. 12. The launch hinges on Stake finalizing an operating agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC).

The province opened its competitive online gambling market on July 13. Before then, offshore sites captured an estimated 70% of Alberta's online gambling activity.

Stake Shifts From Offshore Brand to Licensed Operator

Stake first appeared on AGLC's list of registered operators in late September and announced its license on Oct. 6.

Its Alberta rollout will include an online casino and a sportsbook. "We are not here to blend in," said Kris Abbott, country manager of Stake Canada. Birgitte Sand, a Stake Canada board member, said the company's approach is "grounded in preparation, accountability and a long-term commitment to compliance." Sand also credited the provincial government, AGLC and AiGC with building the regulatory framework.

Stake has long been available to Canadians outside provincial regulation. Launching in Alberta brings the brand into a licensed market. The company is also pursuing approval in Ontario.

Oct. 13 Deadline Pushes Offshore Operators to Register

AGLC guidance set July 13 as the cutoff for unregulated online gambling. The regulator also granted case-by-case extensions of up to three months, all of which expire Oct. 13. To qualify, operators had to show they were on a path to compliance but could not complete it before July 13.

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally addressed the deadline at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas in September. According to Nally, the province "will not go after illicit operators until Oct. 13." He expects the number of licensed sites to grow from about 35 to roughly 60 by the deadline. Betway is among the brands moving into the regulated market.

How Alberta's iGaming Market Works: Rules, Fees, and Protections

AGLC regulates the market and registers operators and suppliers, while AiGC oversees commercial agreements and day-to-day operations.

A site needs both AGLC registration and an AiGC operating agreement before it can accept wagers.

Operators keep 80% of net iGaming revenue, and the remaining 20% goes to the province. Part of the province's share has already funded gambling treatment programs. Each operator pays a one-time C$50,000 application fee, plus a C$150,000 annual registration fee for every site.

All registered sites must connect to AGLC's centralized self-exclusion program. Players can verify an operator's registration through AGLC's public list of registrants. Play Alberta, the government-run platform, continues to operate alongside private sites. Ontario remains the only other Canadian province with a competitive iGaming market.