How Alberta Gambling Revenue Is Collected
Charitable and other gaming revenue in the province comes from an assortment of events. All licensed operators report to the AGLC and revenue from gambling in Alberta is then transferred to the provincial treasury. Here are some of the sources that contribute to the revenue:
- Alberta online casinos
- Land-based casinos
- Raffles
- Bingo
- Pull ticket events
Where Alberta Gambling Revenue Goes
Gambling revenues from sources like Play Alberta go into the General Revenue Fund. From here the AGLC funds, which reached $2.3bn in 2023-24, are then granted to public programs and services. Examples of fund spending include:
- Forestry and parks
- Technology and innovation
- Advanced education
- Children and family services
- Public safety and emergency services
- Environment and protected areas
- Jobs, economy, and trade
- Seniors, community and social services
- Health
- Justice
- Energy and minerals
Charitable and Community Gaming in Alberta
Alberta has an interesting charitable approach which means Alberta gambling can raise millions of dollars for local projects.
Here's how the process works:
- An eligible charity group must have volunteers from Alberta to run a charitable program.
- There must be no paid members, and an executive board of volunteers.
- The group must operate a charitable program available to members of the public, and operate in accordance with AGLC regulations.
- The group must meet a charitable purpose which is: poverty relief, advancing education or religion, or other purposes that benefit the community.
- An eligible charity must then apply for a gaming licence.
- Documentation will need to be provided, including meeting minutes that support the application, operating bylaws, a current executive list, and the last 12 months of financial statements.
- The application process will take around six weeks to be reviewed, and the AGLC will contact the charity in writing.
- If successful a group will be assigned to casino events in one of 10 regions within Alberta.
- A casino event must be completed before a second is requested.
Health and Social Programs Funded by Gambling Revenue
Alberta's iGaming scene is going to grow rapidly in 2026 and the province remains acutely aware of the importance of responsible gambling. How Alberta uses revenues from gambling is partly to help in the fight against problem gambling. The AGLC works in conjunction with GameSense and Alberta Health Services to promote a responsible approach to betting.
Examples of funded addiction prevention, treatment, and education programs over the years include:
- Problem Gambling Resources Network (PGRN)
- GameSense
- The Primary Care Addiction and Mental Health Help Line
- The Lander Treatment Centre
- Staff training programs including Deal Us In, A Good Call, and Reel Facts
Transparency and Oversight of Gambling Revenues
The question of "where does Alberta gambling revenue go?" is a matter of not just funded programs but also transparency about the financial process. The AGLC ensures that Alberta gambling revenue is handled in an appropriate way by means of transparency to prove financial responsibility.
Oversight for the AGLC, covering governance and financial performance, is provided by the Audit & Finance Committee. A key part of the Committee's responsibilities is to perform the AGLC's internal audit on an independent basis.
Annual reports are released publicly on the AGLC website, which include figures on annual performance compared to the preceding year and targets for the latest year.
The distribution of revenue from charitable gaming gathered by the AGLC is spread across 10 separate regions. Information about these regions, the average wait time for key events, and annualised revenue is presented clearly on the AGLC website.
Expense reports are released on a quarterly basis, and share details of expenses that have been approved for board members, vice presidents, executive vice presidents, and the chief executive officer. Acceptable expenses include travel, working sessions, and hospitality.
The AGLC also complies with the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act to post online the compensation received by AGLC employees above a given threshold. This includes not only salaries but also benefits and severance sums.
Alberta's Gambling Revenue Will Increase After 2026
The establishment of a domestic betting market with the launch of iGaming Alberta in 2026 is set to bring in many new private casino operators. The licensing fees and taxes paid by these new casinos will dramatically increase revenue derived from gaming, as it did in Ontario, which established a similar market in 2022.
The passage of Bill 48, the iGaming bill, did not specify the gambling tax rate, although many feel it will be similar to Ontario's at around 20%. The increasing betting activity that will occur means that responsible gambling and funding related programs will only grow in importance in Alberta.
More in our Alberta Guide
If you found this guide helpful be sure to check out some of our other guides below. We guides that cover a range of topics including the latest Alberta gambling laws, how the AGLC regulates gambling in Alberta, a responsible gambling guide, and information on taxes relating to casino winnings.
