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Online Poker in Alberta: Shared Player Pool Remains A Question
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Alberta is making meaningful strides toward becoming the second Canadian province to regulate online poker. But the question about Alberta's shared player pool remains.
Following the lead set by Ontario, the Alberta government has introduced legislation that would allow international operators to offer online poker, casino games, and sports betting under a provincially regulated license.
The bill, introduced in March, outlines a framework that would open Alberta’s market to competition from global brands, offering a safer and more structured environment for players.
Assuming a smooth legislative process, Alberta could see the first licensed operators go live in 2026.
Currently, legal online gambling in Alberta is limited to the government-run PlayAlberta platform, which provides sports betting, lottery games, and online casinos.
However, it does not offer peer-to-peer online poker. Alberta-based players seeking poker currently rely on offshore platforms operating in the gray market, including PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, PartyPoker, and others.
Once the new regulatory system is in place, Alberta residents will gain access to licensed platforms equipped with consumer protection measures, responsible gambling tools, and greater transparency.
It would mark a significant move ahead from the current offshore-only offerings and mirror the model that Ontario has adopted since its market opened in 2022.
Ring-fenced or shared liquidity in Alberta?
The structure of Alberta’s poker market remains a pivotal question. Will it follow Ontario’s path by isolating its player pool within provincial borders, or will it explore broader liquidity options through interprovincial or international compacts?
Ontario opted for a ring-fenced market that requires licensed operators to create separate poker platforms exclusively for its residents.
While this limited liquidity, it did not deter major brands; six rooms across four networks—including PokerStars Ontario and GGPoker Ontario—entered the market within the first year.
However, Alberta presents a different scenario. With a population of under five million, it is unlikely to sustain a viable online poker ecosystem in isolation.
A segregated market would limit player traffic, tournament guarantees, and overall engagement.
The Alberta government appears to be open to shared liquidity. Legislation passed in 2023 permits the province to conduct igaming ‘either alone or in conjunction with the government of another province or territory.’
Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, reinforced this view in October 2024, stating that Alberta aims to join Ontario in liquidity sharing and called on other like-minded provinces to consider similar collaborations.
Such a move would not only benefit Alberta but also strengthen Ontario’s player base. A two-province poker network would serve over 20 million residents, comparable to the combined regulated poker markets of Michigan and New Jersey in the United States.
International liquidity in the coming future?
An alternative route could see Alberta maintain access to international liquidity. Ontario’s initial regulatory interpretation of the Criminal Code prevented operators from connecting to global player pools. However, that stance is currently under legal review.
A case before the Ontario Court of Appeal—backed by industry giants like PokerStars and GGPoker—seeks clarity on whether international liquidity can be permitted under federal law.
A ruling is expected in 2025. Should the court decide in favour of global pooling, it would likely pave the way for Alberta to join the international online poker ecosystem as well.
This would mark a significant shift in Canadian iGaming policy and could spur other provinces to re-evaluate their positions.
In the event that international access remains restricted, Alberta still has the option to form an interprovincial compact, similar to the model used by British Columbia, Québec, and Manitoba in the Canada Poker Network.
While not a complete solution, this would still offer a substantial improvement over isolated provincial markets.
Outlook On Alberta’s Online Poker Scene
As Alberta edges closer to regulation, the interest from major operators is expected to be robust. Industry leaders such as PokerStars, GGPoker, BetMGM, and 888poker will likely seek licenses once the framework is finalised.
The prospect of a shared market with Ontario—or even broader access to international player pools—could further entice new entrants like BetRivers or iPoker to expand into the Canadian market.
With legislative groundwork in motion and a regulatory timeline pointing to early 2026, Alberta is on course to become a meaningful addition to Canada’s regulated poker landscape.
The exact nature of the market—whether provincial, interprovincial, or global—will depend on regulatory decisions in the months ahead, but the momentum toward a safer and more structured online poker environment is undeniable.
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