PointsBet, BetRivers and theScore Open Preregistration for Alberta Bettors

By the end of February, three major sportsbooks had already opened their preregistration in Alberta, getting sports fans and gamers excited for the imminent launch of iGaming in the province. It has closed the gap on the inevitable, and now Albertans can already create accounts at PointsBet Canada, BetRivers and theScore Bet, including downloading the apps and completing the registration steps. While there are plenty of other major parties who are expected to pursue Alberta entries, among them top brands such as DraftKings and FanDuel, there has been no official statement yet from any of these players.

Right now, however, Albertans still only have the provincially run PlayAlberta platform to place their bets at. While the iGaming Alberta Bill was passed last year, the details and frameworks are still closely under wraps. We don’t even have an official launch date for the iGaming and betting market, but the preregistration is a definite sign that there is no backing out now. Sooner, rather than later, Albertans will get the same competitive and open market as Ontario.

Sportsbooks Launching Preregistration in Alberta

This preregistration is not the same as creating a fully registered account at the sportsbooks. You cannot deposit funds into your account, opt into any kinds of bonuses – there are no betting markets or promotions offered right now. Instead, the idea is that you can download the betting apps and initiate the account registration with placeholder accounts. When the licensed iGaming sites go live in Alberta, you can finish any KYC requirements, accept the T&Cs, and complete the registration. After that comes all the deposits, betting markets, and any added promotional incentives.

PointsBet was the first to step forward and open a pre-registration for Albertans. The registration can be done on the general Canada page for PointsBet, where you can enter your province (Alberta), your full name, DoB, email address and phone number. The preregistration also comes with the promise of an exclusive welcome bonus, which PointsBets Alberta stated it will send you before the promotion goes public. You are going to be the first in line.

The next was the BetRivers preregistration, which actually states a bonus offer, but you only enter your email and DoB. Announced on February 4th, the platform states that it will roll out thousands of casino games and comprehensive betting markets for Albertans. The last was theScore Bet, a brand that is massive in Ontario, and recently entered the US after the parent company Penn Entertainment pulled ESPN Bet out of the US. This betting platform also offers Albertans the chance to download its theScore Bet mobile apps, and they can receive updates on when the sports betting goes live in the province.

Challenges Ahead for iGaming in Alberta

We do know that the Alberta iGaming market launch is placed somewhere around the end of 2026 Q1 to Q2, meaning at latest it should come by June or July. The gambling in the province is regulated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis, but with Bill 48, which established the iGaming Alberta Act, a new corporation will also be set up. The Alberta iGaming Corporation, or AiGC, will oversee the iGaming market, though it will still report to the AGLC, which is the market regulator. Much like in Ontario, where you have the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that regulates iGaming, but the market is controlled and managed by iGaming Ontario.

The AiGC board and key executive positions are currently being filled, as the corporation prepares to take over the Alberta gambling scene, which right now comprises only PlayAlberta. PlayAlberta did have a strong year in 2025, recording $275 million in net sales, a 14.5% increase on the previous year. However, provincial surveys estimated that PlayAlberta only has around 23% to 32% of the total market. The rest is filled by black market sites and offshore gambling platforms.

The AiGC has a job ahead, and the Albertan iGaming market already has some legislation published. We know that operators will be charged a 20% revenue tax, of which 2% will go to First Nations and 1% to responsible gambling initiatives such as research and treatment facilities.

Lessons from Ontario

Ontario launched its iGaming market back in 2022, after passing the bill in 2021, and it hit the ground running. Within that first year, the iGaming market had already onboarded 46 licensed operators, and by the end of 2025, there were 50 operators and 80+ licensed gaming sites. Ontario has been praised as having one of the safest and most well organized iGaming industries, and with revenue increasing every year, it seems to be paying off for operators and lawmakers alike.

Of course, Ontario is a much bigger market than Alberta, and its close proximity to New York also opens up channels for US gambling tourism, which also serves the market. Ontario has done some major leaps in recent months, including approving cross border iGaming products and even launching its own, centralized, Ontarian self-exclusion register. Though there have been some operators who have left the province, the majority stay and can carve out a community with their Canadian sports betting products and world class casino games.

Ontario vs Alberta in Figures

Alberta can definitely learn from these examples, and in some cases they will be able to jump forward quickly, using Ontario as a precedent. Of course, Ontario has a population over 3 times larger than Alberta’s. If you compare the net revenue recorded by PlayAlberta back in 2025, which was C$ 275 million, Ontario had over C$ 4 billion. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario stated, at the end of 2025, that it estimated licensed Ontario operators captured around 85% of the market, compared with PlayAlberta only making 23% to 32%. Greater on-shore channelization and more competition can definitely push up those numbers, and Alberta can try to win back players from the black market.

Who Else Could Join Alberta’s iGaming Market

We have 3 brands so far, and commentators expect plenty more to follow in their steps. The most widely anticipated books to join the frey are DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and the UK-based bet365. These all operate in Ontario already, and have proven to understand the Canadian taste for betting and gaming. Special focus will definitely go to the NHL, NFL and CFL betting, as well as horse races – which is big in Edmonton and Calgary (Century Miles and Century Downs, respectively).

The KYC and AML requirements will most likely follow Ontario’s structure, and Alberta has already stated the importance of strong responsible gambling tools. Betting and gaming will be open to any Albertans aged 18 and over, and Albertans can already preregister at competitive books. As Alberta’s iGaming launch draws ever closer, it begs the question, which other Canadian provinces will follow suit – and when? Other provinces also have monopolies via local state run business (or the Atlantic Lotteries Corporation in the Atlantic provinces). The most likely would be British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec or Saskatchewan, but if they did plan any big moves, it would realistically be years in the making.