Ontario has also seen significant increases in the number of people seeking help for gambling.

A University of Toronto study in March suggested that the rate of men under age 24 who called Ontario’s gambling helpline increased by more than 300 per cent since 2022.

It also found that the number of active online accounts per 100,000 people increased by 239 per cent in the first three years, to about 7,300 from 2,160.

Nally said its possible Alberta will see the same.

But he said Ontario’s numbers could be explained by higher public awareness of gambling addiction and the resources available.

“Those problematic gambling behaviours didn’t begin the day that (Ontario’s) market launched,” he said. “They existed previously, but there wasn’t as much awareness.”

For Albertans who don’t gamble, Nally said Monday’s launch might just mean they start seeing more online betting ads and commercials, on top of the ones meant for Ontario’s market that have been popping up for Alberta audiences for some time.

“I think it’ll be more of the status quo. Maybe some more billboards,” Nally said.

One expert said already being inundated with ads might mean Alberta has seen the brunt of online gambling.

“I expect there might be a tiny increase in helpline calls and maybe a tiny increase in problem gambling. But I don’t think it’ll be as significant as we saw in Ontario,” said Robert Williams, a professor with the University of Lethbridge’s addiction and mental health program.

The clinical psychologist and member of the Alberta Gambling Research Institute said he doesn’t expect a lot of the money will stay in the province, because many online operations are multinational companies.

“It’s an economic vacuum on the province,” said Williams.

“It’s not like establishing a casino where you have a huge economic footprint by building it with all local supplies, hiring local people … you leave a lot of the cash in the jurisdiction.

“With an online website that you’re simply importing to a different country, there’s very little expense, with the exception of your competitive advertising.”

A few operators are starting in Alberta with charity donations.

FanDuel, a major online sportsbook based in the United States, said in a news release last week that it’s donating $30,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in Alberta and $50,000 to the Dollar A Day Foundation to support mental health resources.

“As we plan to enter this new market, we’re committed to delivering a best-in-class entertainment experience and meaningful community engagement remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Dale Hooper, general manager with FanDuel Canada.

DraftKings, another U.S.-based sportsbook and online casino operator, said it would be giving $150,000 to Food Banks Alberta on Tuesday and that employees would be putting in some volunteer hours.

River Cree Resort and Casino, just west of Edmonton, said it won’t be ready to offer online gambling until later this year.

Vik Mahajan, the resort’s chief executive officer, said it’s possible online betting will take away some business from physical casinos, but he also sees it as an opportunity to grow.

“If there is an iGaming market that opens up, we have to be a part of it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2026.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press