New Regulation in Alberta Prohibits Wagering on Political Events

By Blog


Published on: March 19, 2026, 09:54h.

Updated on: March 19, 2026, 09:54h.

  • Alberta’s new regulated igaming will not permit betting on politics
  • AGCO has permitted political wagering on licensed igaming sites since the market inception in April 2022
  • Tonybet becomes a member of the Canadian Gaming Association

Alberta’s upcoming regulated igaming industry will mirror Ontario’s in several aspects, yet it will distinctly prohibit novelty betting on political matters, marking a significant divergence between the two regions.

Leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, addresses attendees at a ‘Canada First’ rally in Ottawa in February 2025. Under Alberta’s new igaming regulations, political betting will not be allowed. (Image: DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Market Prediction Regulations

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis, responsible for operator licensing and regulatory oversight in the province’s new igaming framework, released a bulletin outlining an amendment to the Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming, detailed in Subsection 4.6.5:

*4.6.5 p) has been added to explicitly ban betting on political occurrences (including elections, by-elections, and leadership contests).

The newly formed Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) will oversee and manage the market, maintaining an 80/20 revenue share, along with a 3% allocation from gross gaming revenue to support First Nations and social responsibility initiatives.

Political Betting in Ontario

For instance, if a user visits BetMGM in Ontario today, they will find an array of political betting options under the ‘politics’ category. This includes wagers on the upcoming 2026 Danish General Election set for March 24, multiple markets for British politics, and probabilities for the 2026 U.S. Midterms, Senate elections, gubernatorial races, and the presidential election in 2028.

In March 2025, Casino.org reported extensively on betting trends regarding Canada’s national election, citing dynamic odds on recognized sportsbooks in Ontario such as FanDuel. Additionally, fluctuations in prediction market betting on sites like Polymarket, based outside of Canada, accurately echoed a significant shift in voter support towards Mark Carney, who ultimately led his Liberal Party to secure a minority victory over the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre.

While prediction markets are prohibited in Canada, individuals outside Ontario can utilize VPNs to bypass restrictions and access platforms like Polymarket.

Tonybet’s Inclusion in the Canadian Gaming Association

Tonybet, an international igaming operator licensed in Ontario, has announced its membership in the Canadian Gaming Association, the national organization representing the gaming industry in Canada.

“Becoming a part of the Canadian Gaming Association shows our commitment to the idea that the ongoing success of regulated gaming in Canada relies on collaboration between operators and regulators. Canada has been a remarkable growth region for us—our registrations nearly doubled in 2025, driven by localized practices, integrated compliance, and a strong focus on player protection,” remarked Dmitry Arabuli, CEO of Tonybet.

“The CGA promotes similar principles across the gaming landscape, and we are dedicated to contributing to this by sharing our expertise, championing responsible gaming, and advocating for consistently high standards among all operators.”



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