Alberta Expects DFS Legal Dilemma Won't Delay Sports Betting Launch

International liquidity may be more of a "great to have" and not a "need to have" for Alberta's big sports betting and online casino gaming shakeup.


- Alberta plans to its regulated iGaming market this year and does not expect a continuous Supreme Court case to postpone it.


- The case could impact guidelines around global player pooling, which might affect online poker and day-to-day dream sports in Alberta.


- Despite the legal uncertainty, Alberta is proceeding while seeking input in the Supreme Court appeal.


The Western Canadian province is still moving ahead with a plan to license and regulate a multitude of private-sector operators of online sportsbooks and gambling establishments, with the launch of the new regulated market anticipated to happen around the middle of this year.


There are, however, some substantial legal matters that might affect how Alberta's competitive iGaming market will function. Those matters include an attempt to have the Supreme Court of Canada reverse a lower-court decision in Ontario that might enable that province to connect its online betting scheme with those of other countries.


One fascinating aspect of the forthcoming Alberta iGaming market is that operators can start registering clients when they get a license. No deposits yet, though. Here, for example, is @PointsBetCanada announcing AB pre-reg is now open for clients: pic.twitter.com/tANclBf89H


Ontario believes global iGaming liquidity could help breathe life back into the province's online poker scene and possibly supply a path for "pay-to-play" everyday fantasy contests to return. Those two verticals took a struck when Ontario launched its competitive iGaming market in 2022, as the rules of the market require all players to be physically located in the province.


While the Supreme Court has yet to weigh in, when it does, it will bring major weight. It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that the Attorney General of Alberta recently filed a movement to intervene in the Supreme Court appeal, claiming that it "will have a significant influence on determining the legality and operation of" the province's iGaming legislation.


Full speed ahead


Alberta, however, doesn't prepare for the Supreme Court appeal will delay its plan to introduce Canada's second competitive market for iGaming.


"Alberta's federal government has submitted an intervention application and eagerly anticipates taking part in that procedure to provide our insights," said Kevin Lee, press secretary to Alberta's de facto iGaming minister, Dale Nally, in a statement to Covers on Tuesday. "This matter is not expected to impact the timing of Alberta's iGaming market launch this spring."


The remarks must give some self-confidence to bettors and operators that Alberta remains on track to introduce its competitive iGaming market, which will bring the number of provincially managed operators from one, Play Alberta, to hopefully many.


There is a lot of work left to do before the new Alberta sports betting market opens, however development is being made.


Still, the legal unpredictability about international liquidity may likewise cause some issue for poker connoisseurs and DFS players in Alberta. Ontario's poker and DFS scenes were hit hard by its competitive iGaming market, and Alberta is embracing a lot of the very same policies, consisting of that all players must remain in the province.


Ontario continues to handle that fallout, and it's why the provincial federal government there referred a concern to its Court of Appeal asking whether it would be legal to connect its iGaming scheme with foreign jurisdictions. By connecting to a U.S. state or another nation, the potential size of online poker games could grow, and there might be enough there for DFS operators to re-engage in Ontario.


Updated with the most recent, bullish chatter about when Alberta's new iGaming market will open. Seems like a late Q2 launching is really much a possibility. https://t.co/TiLr61NIVu


A majority choice from the Court of Appeal for Ontario said the province's proposed sharing of iGaming liquidity with foreign jurisdictions would be legal. However, a union of government-owned lottery games appealed the Ontario choice to the Supreme Court of Canada, keeping things lawfully unsure for the foreseeable future.


It's likewise uncertain exactly what will take place in Alberta, specifically, if poker games will diminish and DFS contests will shutter. It's likewise possible that Ontario and Alberta accept share iGaming liquidity between themselves, which might assist.