Stake Canada is preparing to enter Alberta’s regulated online gambling market after securing provincial licensing approval, marking another step in the operator’s expansion into regulated jurisdictions.
The company received its full licence from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) on October 6, following its initial operator registration in September. Its entry comes as Alberta approaches a deadline requiring eligible operators to transition from the unregulated market into the province’s new licensing framework.
Stake Prepares Casino and Sportsbook Launch
Stake Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Australian companies Stake Gaming and Easygo Group, intends to offer online casino games and sports betting in Alberta. Poker and daily fantasy sports are not included in its planned launch offering.
The company was targeting an October 12 launch, subject to completing an operating agreement with Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), the organization responsible for managing the province’s regulated market.
Stake Canada General Manager Kris Abbott praised Alberta’s regulatory process, highlighting the cooperation between provincial authorities and the market management agency.
The launch would add another major international gambling brand to Alberta’s expanding regulated sector, which had already attracted more than 30 licensed gaming sites by early October.
Alberta’s Transition Deadline Raises Stakes
Alberta launched its regulated iGaming market on July 13, introducing a framework intended to bring private online gambling operators into a provincially supervised system. Eligible operators received a limited transition period to obtain approval and prepare to operate under the new rules.
The October 13 deadline is particularly significant for businesses that previously served Canadian customers through offshore platforms.
Stake’s wider brand has a substantial presence in Canada’s unregulated gambling market. Estimates from H2 Gambling Capital, cited by Canadian Gaming Business, place its share of that market at approximately 31%, with estimated Canadian revenue of C$921 million.
Meanwhile, Stake Canada’s application to enter Ontario remains pending. Its Alberta approval therefore represents an important development in the company’s Canadian expansion, although its launch timing and availability remain subject to the relevant regulatory requirements.