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A new industry analysis is putting Canada near the top of North America’s regulated gambling growth story, with attention increasingly shifting beyond Ontario and toward Alberta’s long-awaited market opening.
The assessment, published by iGaming.com following discussions and announcements at SBC Summit Canada 2026, argues that Canada is developing into one of the most attractive destinations for regulated online gambling operators. The conclusion rests largely on two developments: Ontario’s ability to steer players toward licensed platforms and Alberta’s upcoming entry into the regulated market.
Ontario remains the benchmark.
The province has reported a channelization rate of 91%, meaning the overwhelming majority of online gambling activity is taking place through regulated operators rather than offshore sites. For regulators, that figure is often viewed as a measure of whether a legal market is achieving its core objective—bringing players into a supervised environment where consumer protections can be enforced.
The success of Ontario’s model has not gone unnoticed. Industry observers increasingly point to the province as evidence that commercial competition and player protection do not have to be competing priorities. Instead, the market has become a case study for jurisdictions weighing whether to open their own online gambling sectors.
The next test arrives in Alberta.
The province has yet to launch its regulated framework, but anticipation is already building across the industry. Roughly 70 operators are reportedly preparing for entry, and licensing activity has accelerated ahead of the opening. Among the companies positioning themselves early is bet365, which has already secured approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
That level of interest is unusual even by North American standards. Operators typically approach new jurisdictions cautiously, especially when regulatory details are still taking shape. Alberta appears to be generating a different reaction. The size of the province, combined with lessons learned from Ontario’s rollout, has turned the launch into one of the most closely watched gambling developments on the continent.
The analysis also highlights a widening policy divide between Canada and Europe.
While Canadian provinces continue to focus on regulated competition and moving consumers away from unlicensed operators, parts of Europe are increasingly occupied with discussions around taxation. One proposal under consideration at the European level would introduce a 1% levy on online gambling revenues, a measure projected to generate as much as €28 billion during the EU’s 2028–2034 budget cycle.
For operators deciding where to invest, those contrasting approaches matter. Markets that emphasize channelization and competitive licensing structures can look very different from jurisdictions where new tax burdens are becoming part of the regulatory conversation.
Industry expectations are now extending beyond Ontario and Alberta. Discussions at SBC Summit Canada suggested that other provinces may eventually explore regulated online gambling frameworks of their own. No timelines have been confirmed, but the direction of travel is becoming harder to ignore.
For now, Ontario remains the proof of concept. Alberta is the next major test. And if additional provinces follow, Canada’s online gambling landscape could look very different within just a few years.
Source: www.gamblingnews.com
