Salma Lakhani Holds the Key to Alberta Sports Betting Boom

• With Bill 48 passed, Alberta is positioning itself as the most valuable untapped gaming marketing in Canada.
• All that stands between Alberta and a $700M online betting boom is Salma Lakhani’s signature.

EDMONTON – Now that Alberta’s iGaming bill has passed, headlines are buzzing about Ontario 2.0. But if you think this is just another copy-paste regulatory rollout, you’re missing the bigger story.

This isn’t about following Ontario’s lead, it’s about Alberta stepping into its own spotlight as Canada’s most desirable legal sports betting market. It’s not because of the law but because of the people.

Alberta Demographics Lean Pro Betting

Alberta may have only a third of Ontario’s population, but it punches above its weight in every metric that matters to legal online sportsbooks and casino platforms. It boasts Canada’s youngest adult population, the highest per-capita GDP, and the highest per-capita spend on gambling.

This is a province where disposable income meets digital fluency. The question isn’t will Albertans bet but where they’ll be allowed to.

For the likes of FanDuel, BetMGM, and other major legal sportsbooks in Canada operating in Ontario’s, Alberta is the next big swing. Analysts estimate the province’s online gambling market could surpass $700 million annually.

When Will Alberta Sports Betting Launch?

Unlike Ontario’s chaotic Day 1 launch with dozens of operators, Alberta has the chance to stage a more strategic rollout. No official date is set – and Royal Assent is still required (approval from Salma Lakhani, Alberta’s lieutenant governor – but expectations are aligning around early 2026.

That gives operators time to build tailored products, partner locally, and prepare for a market that demands the world.

Alberta isn’t just another dot on the map. For the global gaming industry, it might be the most important new market in North America next year.

News tags: Alberta | Canada | iGaming | Ontario | Salma Lakhani