Alberta and Ontario Compared: How Canada's Two Open iGaming Markets Work and Where Crypto Fits

Canada has two provinces where private operators can legally offer online casino games and sports betting. Ontario opened its market in April 2022, and Alberta followed in July 2026 with a model built along similar lines.

Both markets register operators, centralise oversight and set strict payment rules that exclude crypto deposits.

Here is how the two markets compare, what they mean for players in each province and where crypto betting fits for Canadians living elsewhere.

Two Provinces, One Model

Ontario and Alberta split regulation and market management between two bodies, and the table compares the main features.

Last verified: November 2026

Ontario's regulator registers operators and sets the Registrar's Standards covering underage access, game integrity, anti-money laundering and responsible gambling.

Ontario's Structure

iGaming Ontario signs operating agreements with private operators, while the AGCO handles registration and standards. The agency became independent in May 2025.

Players in Ontario can check whether a site appears on the provincial list of registered operators before depositing, a step covered in any licence check.

Alberta's Structure

Alberta's model came from the iGaming Alberta Act, passed in 2025. AGLC registers operators and suppliers, while the Alberta iGaming Corporation manages the market and operates a centralised self-exclusion system covering land-based and online play.

Operators already serving Albertans without registration had until 13 October 2026 to leave, under a case-by-case grace period set before launch.

Tax and Revenue

Licensed Alberta operators pay 20% of gross gaming revenue to the province, with small deductions for First Nations funding and social responsibility programmes.

Where Crypto Fits

Ontario's standards rule out cryptocurrency on the grounds that it is not legal tender, as a legal analysis of deposit rules explains. Alberta's standards contain a similar ban, according to industry coverage.

Players in both provinces fund regulated accounts through approved methods such as Interac, bank transfers and debit cards. Crypto sportsbooks fall outside these regulated markets entirely.

Other Provinces

Elsewhere in Canada, government lottery corporations operate the only authorised online platforms. Offshore crypto books lack provincial approval in those markets as well.

Canadians who have moved abroad face a different picture, and options for Canadian expats depend on their host country's law.

Dexsport and Canadian Players

Dexsport holds an Anjouan licence through Dexapp LTD and lacks registration in Ontario and Alberta. Residents of those provinces should use a registered operator instead.

For Canadians living abroad where local law allows offshore betting, Dexsport covers 21 ice hockey market types, from match winner to period totals. Hockey fans abroad can compare it with other hockey sportsbooks.

Conclusion

Ontario and Alberta host Canada's two open iGaming markets, each with a regulator that registers operators and a separate body that manages the market. Ontario launched in 2022, Alberta in July 2026, and both bar crypto deposits.

Players in either province should use registered sites and approved payment methods. Crypto sportsbooks such as Dexsport lack provincial registration, so they suit only Canadians living abroad where local law permits offshore betting.

Other provinces keep online gambling with government lottery platforms. Check the rules where you live before signing up, bet only at legal age and remember that KYC or AML checks may apply.

Disclaimer: The information here is provided for general purposes only and is not legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Provincial gaming rules, registered operator lists, payment standards and licences change over time. Residents of Ontario and Alberta should use registered operators. Betting involves risk, and rules vary by country and province, so check the law where you live. Please bet responsibly, within your means, and only if you are of legal age.