TonyBet said on 31 July that its sportsbook was fully legal and live in Alberta. Alberta became the second Canadian province to do so, after Ontario opened a private online gambling market in April 2022.
TonyBet told RotoWire that it had previously held licences in Ontario and through Kahnawake before adding Alberta to its regulated footprint. The company operates under an agreement with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission and is registered with the Alberta iGaming Corporation. Bettors must be 18 or older and physically located in Alberta.
The launch drew nearly 50 companies that had paid $200,000 in registration and permit fees ahead of opening day. About 20 were expected to be ready for customers at launch. Before the regulated market opened, Albertans were using PlayAlberta or grey-market operators, with wagers going offshore.
World Casino Directory said Alberta estimates roughly 70% of the province’s online gambling activity had previously taken place through unregulated or grey-market channels. It also said operators must register with AGLC, sign commercial agreements with AiGC, provide responsible-gambling tools and monitoring, and plug into a centralized self-exclusion system that can cover both online and land-based venues.
The new framework also brought strict advertising rules designed to stop operators from targeting minors or other high-risk groups. Operators are required to obtain RG Check accreditation. Coverage differed slightly on the money flows, but both reports put the levy at 20%: The Globe and Mail said the government will collect 20% of profits from private operators and guarantee First Nations 2% of all revenues, while World Casino Directory described a 20% gross-gaming-revenue tax, plus 2% for First Nations initiatives and 1% for social responsibility programmes.
Several large brands moved in at launch. bet365 said its sportsbook and casino were immediately available and highlighted a partnership with the Canadian Football League. Caesars also launched Caesars Sportsbook and Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, with Eric Hession calling the rollout a defining moment for the company’s digital business.
