In the epic fantasy novels and subsequent TV show, various members of House Stark repeat their famous motto, “Winter is coming”. Yet it takes a long, long time for that winter to arrive, both in the faster paced television adaptation and the longer books.
It doesn’t take as long as Canadian legalization and regulation of the online gambling industry though. For decades, people in this country have been waiting and hoping for a well-regulated and fully licensed online gambling industry to match those in other parts of the world.
For the past couple of years too, we have been told that regulation and legalisation is on the way and “just around the corner”, yet still, we wait. The latest news then, that over half of Alberta’s online gambling market is still being dominated by offshore and unregulated providers is disappointing.
The Link to the UK
When the British government under Tony Blair took the decision to innovate and regulate their online gambling industry in the 2000s, the sector completely took off. Within just a couple of years, the gross gambling yield was approaching astronomical figures.
In search of further revenues and profits, the British online gambling industry began to look for voids, or vacuums that it could fill, and it found one in Canada. With tough online gambling laws and no real form of enforcement, the country was the ideal victim for British providers to pick off.
Decades of Market Share
The key point above is that there was and is a complete lack of enforcement in Canada that allows overseas providers to operate with impunity in this country. As such, British gambling companies have been able to build brand awareness and customer loyalty throughout the past two decades.
That means that to Canadian audiences, companies established in Stoke-on-Trent, Leeds and London are more visible than ones established right here in Alberta. It’s no wonder then that even with a more liberal domestic online industry ahead of supposed legalization and regulation, over half of the online gambling market in Alberta is dominated by overseas providers.
Even with liberalization and the promise of legal online casinos, Alberta’s domestic platforms face an uphill battle. However, for players looking to engage safely and responsibly, there are options. The top Alberta gambling sites reviewed by Casino.org offer fully licensed and regulated experiences, providing transparency, fair play, and secure payment processing that offshore providers cannot guarantee. These reviews give players confidence, showing which sites are trustworthy and compliant with Canadian laws.
They also include detailed information about payout speeds, bonuses, game variety, and customer support. These are essential factors for any player seeking a safe, enjoyable experience online. By consulting these reviews, Canadians can avoid the risks of unregulated gambling and make informed decisions.
What Can be Done?
Legalization and regulation, now! It has been teased for too long and every moment of delay plays right into the hands of overseas companies. As alluded to above, new domestic providers are already behind the eight-ball when it comes to establishing market share and influence. The longer that we are made to wait for legalization and regulation, the harder their task becomes.
Although that is just one stage of wrestling back control for domestic providers. The other, and perhaps more important aspect of this is actually enforcing the law and punishing players who wager with overseas companies and the companies themselves.
If this is done, it will make people think twice before playing with a British based online casino and encourage them to play with a domestic one instead. Fines on overseas providers will also dissuade them from advertising in the country, and it will take back a teeny-tiny fraction of the revenues that they have historically taken out of this country.
Ultimately, establishing a regulated and enforced domestic market benefits everyone: players gain access to safer platforms, domestic operators can compete on a level playing field, and the provincial government can reclaim lost revenue. By prioritizing enforcement, licensing, and education, Alberta can create a sustainable online gambling ecosystem that is both profitable and responsible, giving Canadians confidence in where they place their bets.