Election betting to be banned in Alberta's regulated market

Alberta’s regulated market to ban election betting

Added:
Alberta’s regulated market to ban election betting

On March 17, 2026, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) announced that a change was made in section 4.6, ‘Sports and Event Betting’ of Alberta’s Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming.

On the other hand, Ontario, which is the only other province with a regulated iGaming market, allows election betting, an area already associated with prediction markets, and while Alberta’s market borrows mainly from Ontario, the latest change shows how the province is creating its own framework.

The Alberta iGaming bulletin stated:

“This bulletin is to advise iGaming Suppliers of IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS to the Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming (SRIG). The following policy amendments are effective March 17, 2026. AGLC is committed to reviewing policies to meet the needs of stakeholders while maintaining an effective regulatory environment. As a result, a policy amendment has been made to Section 4.6 of the SRIG: 4.6.5 p) has been added to prohibit betting on political events (e.g., elections, by-elections, and leadership contests).”

Alberta will also impose a higher tax rate than Ontario’s 20% and will have a centralized self-exclusion system ready even before the market launch. It hasn’t yet officially been announced when the regulated online gaming market will go live; however, it’s expected to be sometime during summer 2026.

Alla Basentsyan
Alla Basentsyan Content Writer

As a content writer at AffPapa, Alla focuses on daily coverage of iGaming news, writes in-depth articles on the most relevant topics of the sector, and presents insights from industry professionals through dedicated interviews. She combines her background in research with an engaging and informative approach to help readers stay up-to-date with everything that’s happening in global iGaming markets.

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