Alberta To Require RG Check For Online Gambling Operators

Alberta is moving closer to launching a regulated online gambling market while introducing stricter responsible gambling requirements for operators. The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) confirmed that every platform entering the provincial market will need to secure RG Check accreditation, placing responsible gambling standards at the center of the new regulatory framework.

The accreditation requirement was introduced through a partnership between the Alberta iGaming Corporation and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). Officials say the policy ensures that every licensed operator in Alberta demonstrates a verified commitment to responsible gambling practices before offering services to players.

The announcement arrives as the province continues preparations for its commercial iGaming rollout, which regulators believe could take place around the start of summer.

Under the new framework, all online gambling platforms that plan to operate in Alberta’s regulated market must complete the RG Check accreditation process. Operators will also need to maintain that accreditation while continuing to offer services in the province.

“Alberta is committed to building a safer, regulated iGaming environment where player protection comes first,” said Dan Keene, Interim AiGC CEO. “By requiring RG Check accreditation, we’re ensuring that every iGaming operator in our market has demonstrated their commitment to player safety through independent verification of their responsible gambling programs.”

RG Check is an independent responsible gambling accreditation program created by the Responsible Gambling Council more than ten years ago. The program evaluates operators according to evidence-based standards and reviews several areas of gambling operations, including governance practices, player protection measures, staff training, and marketing approaches.

The accreditation has gained recognition across multiple jurisdictions and is considered a widely used benchmark for responsible gambling oversight.

“This partnership with AiGC demonstrates the power of regulators and responsible gambling experts working together to protect players from day one,” said Sarah McCarthy, RGC CEO. “Alberta is building on a strong foundation established in Ontario, where RG Check has proven its value in creating safer gambling environments. This proactive approach ensures that player protection isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the market from the ground up.”

Officials also confirmed that operators already holding RG Check accreditation in another jurisdiction will be able to move through the Alberta process more efficiently. Even so, a specific accreditation for the Alberta market will still be required.

Alberta has spent the past two years building the legal and operational structure for its online gambling market. Bill 48, known as the iGaming Alberta Act, became law last spring and established the foundation for commercial iGaming in the province.

In January this year, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) published the first set of guidelines describing how operators and suppliers will function within the regulated system. Several companies already licensed in Ontario have indicated that they have submitted registration applications for Alberta as well.

Companies approved by AGLC will also be required to sign operating agreements with the Alberta iGaming Corporation before launching their platforms.

“There will be an operator agreement and subsequent policies that the operators will have to agree to,” Keene explained. “Once they do, they become an agent of the AiGC to conduct and manage iGaming within the province. We suspect in the coming weeks, we’ll be able to share a first cut of that operating agreement with operators to get some feedback.”

At the same time, the AiGC is continuing to develop its internal structure. The organization is currently recruiting several senior executives, including a Chief Compliance and Operations Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and a Director of AML.

Additional player protection tools are also in development, including a centralized self-exclusion system designed to operate across the regulated market.

A summer launch would give operators several months to establish their presence before major North American sports seasons begin in the fall, when betting activity typically increases.

“One of the biggest things I’ve heard from operators, and it’s so true, is that we need to do it right and with integrity,” Keene said. “I’m confident in AiGC and AGLC, immensely confident in our industry and our partners in business. We certainly won’t shirk any of our responsibilities.”

Source:

, newswire.ca, February 20, 2026.