Tonybet CEO on Alberta's iGaming regulation: opportunity, timing, and weak spots

Alberta is scheduled to launch its regulated online gambling market on 13 July 2026, making it Canada's next major regulated iGaming market after Ontario. The timing matters: Alberta's launch comes during the final stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting with the USA and Mexico, and just days before the final on 19 July.

For operators already active in Canada, the province represents both a commercial opportunity and a regulatory test: the market is attractive, but entry will depend on licensing timelines, compliance requirements, responsible gambling standards and the ability to compete with offshore brands.

CasinoCanada.com approached a group of Canada-facing casino and sportsbook operators for comment on Alberta's upcoming regulated iGaming market. Several declined to comment publicly or said they were not currently planning to pursue an Alberta licence, which underlines a broader industry reality: Alberta remains commercially attractive, but operators are still weighing regulatory timing, compliance requirements and market-entry economics ahead of launch.

Tonybet was one of the operators willing to comment on the record. For the operator, Canada is already a meaningful part of the business. According to Dmitry Arabuli, CEO at Tonybet, registrations in the Canadian market grew by nearly 95% year over year in 2025, while the brand's active user base in December 2025 was 24% larger than 12 months earlier. That growth gives Alberta strategic relevance, even if Tonybet is not disclosing a specific market-entry timeline at this stage.

CasinoCanada.com asked Arabuli about Alberta licensing, the weak spots in the province's transition, and how the market could shape Tonybet's Canada strategy over the next two to three years.

Dmitry Arabuli: Canada has been one of the most important chapters in Tonybet's story. In 2025, registrations in the Canadian market grew by nearly 95% year over year. Our active user base there was 24% larger in December 2025 than it was 12 months prior. These numbers reflect years of commitment to building something real in this market, starting with Ontario and extending across the country. We don't take that lightly, and we don't approach new opportunities within Canada casually.

What I'll say about Alberta is this: when a regulated market opens in a region where you already have a strong, growing presence and an established compliance infrastructure, you pay close attention. Alberta's framework is serious – it mirrors what Ontario built, with real player protections and clear expectations for operators. That's the kind of environment we respect and want to be part of. I won't go into specific timelines here, but I will say our orientation toward Canada is long-term, and every meaningful development in that market matters to us.

Dmitry Arabuli: Every market transition goes through a calibration phase, and Alberta is no exception. Ontario is the most instructive precedent here – the first year wasn't about whether the framework was well-designed (it was), but about the gap between regulatory intent and day-to-day execution. Operators were interpreting new obligations, affiliates were adjusting their models, and everyone was learning what compliance actually looked like in practice.

Alberta is in that same phase right now. The framework is sound, but the market – operators, affiliates, and players – is still catching up to what it demands. Marketing standards, responsible gaming protocols, KYC expectations – these aren't difficult to understand in theory, but building operations that consistently deliver against them takes time and investment. Ultimately, it's a learning curve. Some operators will move through it faster than others.

Dmitry Arabuli: It probably won't change it as much as some people expect, because our approach to Canada has always been built around wherever regulation is done properly. Ontario was the entry point, and it validated a model we'd spent years developing across Europe – full licensing, genuine local operations, compliance built into the product rather than bolted on. What Alberta does is extend that model further west.

The more meaningful shift is directional. Alberta adds another regulated market to a country where the trend is unmistakably toward greater structure and consumer protection. Each province that moves in this direction makes the Canadian market as a whole more sustainable for operators who are built for it. That's the environment we've always performed best in. So rather than changing what we do, Alberta reinforces why we've been doing it this way.

Industry commentator Allan Asava says:

“Tonybet CEO Dmitry Arabuli thinks of Alberta's launch with cautious optimism rather than with a sense of urgency. Operators are interested, but many are still waiting to see how licensing requirements and compliance expectations work in practice. As seen during and after the Ontario launch, regulation is only the first step, and implementation determines how the market develops.”

“Canada is gradually shifting towards a more structured online gambling environment, sound regulation, and robust compliance systems for operators. Gaming opportunities around less regulated markets are expected to drop, but the launch will be another test of whether provincial models can continue attracting operators while maintaining consumer protection.”