Who Are the AGLC and AiGC? Alberta's iGaming Regulators Explained
When Alberta's regulated online gambling market opens on 13 July, 2026, two organisations will sit at the centre of it all: the AGLC and the AiGC.
If you have been reading about Alberta iGaming and wondering what the difference is between the two, you are not alone.
This guide explains who they are, what each one does, and why both matter to players.
The Short Version
Alberta's iGaming model splits responsibility between two bodies:
- The AGLC is the regulator. It sets the rules, licenses operators, and enforces the law.
- The AiGC is the commercial manager. It signs the contracts with operators and handles complaints, anti-money laundering, and revenue reporting.
Every licensed Alberta gambling site has to satisfy both organisations before it can accept a single player deposit.
One without the other is not enough to go live.
Who Is the AGLC?
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) is a provincial government agency that has been regulating gaming in Alberta since 1996.
It was originally created as the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission before cannabis was added to its remit in 2018.
The AGLC regulates gaming, liquor and cannabis in Alberta, supporting public safety and consumer choice. In practice that covers everything from slot machines and lottery tickets to bingo halls, casinos, and now online gambling.
What does the AGLC do in iGaming?
Under Alberta's iGaming framework, the AGLC is responsible for:
- Operator and supplier registration - every company that wants to legally offer online gambling in Alberta must first complete a three-stage registration process with the AGLC, covering due diligence, compliance readiness, and technical integration
- Setting and enforcing standards - the AGLC publishes the Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming (SRIG), which every licensed operator must follow as a condition of registration
- Running the centralized self-exclusion program - the AGLC operates the province-wide system that lets players exclude themselves from all licensed platforms simultaneously
- Auditing and enforcement - the AGLC can inspect operators, impose conditions, suspend registrations, and permanently ban operators that breach their obligations
- Operating PlayAlberta - the government-run platform continues to operate alongside private operators, also under AGLC oversight
The AGLC also maintains the public register of registered iGaming operators, which is the definitive reference point for players wanting to confirm whether a site is licensed.
Who Is the AiGC?
The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) is a brand new Crown corporation, created specifically by the iGaming Alberta Act (Bill 48) to manage the commercial side of Alberta's online gambling market. It did not exist before 2025.
The AiGC is mandated to develop, undertake, organise, conduct and manage online lottery on behalf of the Government of Alberta.
In plain language, it is the body that sits between the regulator and the operators, handling the commercial relationship once an operator has cleared AGLC registration.
What does the AiGC do in iGaming?
The AiGC is responsible for:
- Commercial operating agreements - once an operator completes AGLC registration, it must also sign a commercial agreement with the AiGC before it can go live. This is where revenue splits, operating expectations, and reporting obligations are locked in
- Anti-money laundering (AML) oversight - the AiGC manages AML compliance and reporting obligations for the market
- Player complaints - if a dispute with a licensed operator cannot be resolved directly, players can escalate to the AiGC as a formal complaints body
- Revenue management and reporting - the AiGC tracks and reconciles iGaming revenues on behalf of the province, including the 20% tax share that goes to the Alberta government
The AiGC operates at arm's length from the provincial government and is governed by an independent board of up to seven members.
Its first permanent CEO is Dan Keene, who confirmed at the SBC Summit Canada in May 2026 that the AiGC is also working on a memorandum of understanding with Ontario regarding interprovincial gaming liquidity. This is a development that could eventually benefit poker players in both provinces.
How the Two Bodies Work Together
The simplest way to think about it is this: the AGLC is the gatekeeper, and the AiGC is the contract partner.
An operator must pass through the AGLC gate first - completing due diligence, meeting compliance standards, and integrating with the self-exclusion system. Only then does it move to the AiGC to finalise commercial terms and receive go-live authorisation.
For players, the practical effect is a two-track complaints and recourse system. If something goes wrong with a licensed operator following player registration:
- Start with the operator's own customer support
- If unresolved, escalate to the AiGC for a commercial complaint
- For regulatory breaches, the AGLC handles enforcement separately
That two-layer protection is a significant upgrade over the grey market where a complaint to an offshore regulator rarely led anywhere meaningful.
How Does Alberta Compare to Ontario?
Alberta's dual-body model is deliberately modelled on Ontario's online gambling market, which has operated since April 2022. The parallel is straightforward:
| Alberta | Ontario | Role |
|---|---|---|
| AGLC | AGCO | Regulator |
| AiGC | iGaming Ontario | Conduct & Manage |
The structures are closely aligned, which is one reason so many Ontario-registered operators were able to move into Alberta relatively quickly.
For operators already familiar with the Ontario framework, the Alberta process followed recognisable logic even if the specific requirements differed in places.
Why This Matters for Players
Most players will never deal directly with either the AGLC or the AiGC. But their existence is what makes a licensed Alberta site meaningfully different from an offshore one.
Before 13 July, if a grey market site refused a withdrawal or closed your account unfairly, your options were limited to the operator's own complaints process and whatever the offshore licensing authority (typically Curacao or Malta) was willing to do.
With the AGLC and AiGC in place, licensed operators are subject to enforceable standards, ongoing audits, and a complaints escalation path with genuine regulatory teeth behind it.
That is the difference regulation makes in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AGLC?
The AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission) is the provincial government agency responsible for regulating all gaming in Alberta, including online gambling. For iGaming, it handles operator registration, compliance standards, enforcement, and the centralized self-exclusion program.
What is the AiGC?
The AiGC (Alberta iGaming Corporation) is a Crown corporation created by the iGaming Alberta Act to manage the commercial side of Alberta's regulated online gambling market. It signs operating agreements with licensed operators, oversees anti-money laundering compliance, manages player complaints, and tracks revenue on behalf of the province.
Do I need to contact the AGLC or AiGC as a player?
Most players will not need to contact either body directly. If you have a dispute with a licensed operator, start with the operator's support team. If that does not resolve it, the AiGC handles player complaints for the regulated market. The AGLC's public register at aglc.ca is useful for confirming whether a site is licensed.
How do I know if a site is licensed by both the AGLC and AiGC?
Check the AGLC's public register at aglc.ca. Look for a licensing statement in the site's footer confirming Alberta registration. A site that is only on the AGLC register but has not completed its AiGC commercial agreement is not yet authorised to accept deposits.
Who is the CEO of the AiGC?
Dan Keene was confirmed as the permanent CEO of the Alberta iGaming Corporation in May 2026, having previously served in the role on an interim basis.
For a full explanation of Alberta's iGaming laws, see our Alberta online gambling laws guide.
Players must be 18+. If you need support with your gambling, call the Problem Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700.
