You might be wondering what is meant by the “Grey Market” when referring to online casinos and how they are different than other online casinos. And more importantly, why should you care?
“Grey Market” refers to unregulated gaming sites, meaning that they are not registered within a particular jurisdiction and therefore do not abide by the same rules and regulations of regulated casinos within that jurisdiction. In Alberta, for example, Grey Market sites may be regulated somewhere in the world but not by the province so players gambling on those sites may not have the same protections offered by regulated sites.
Unregulated online gambling is already widely available across the province, with some providers operating with limited or no player protection or social responsibility measures. Based on recent survey data, unregulated operators are estimated to capture approximately 70% of Alberta’s total iGaming market.
Alberta’s government is taking action by establishing a regulatory framework that requires private iGaming providers to put player protection at the forefront of their operations. These measures will help ensure Albertans who choose to gamble are protected.
Benefits of a regulated market
Strong safeguards and social responsibility measures, such as a centralized self-exclusion system that enables individuals to manage their gambling activities.
Strict rules for advertising, marketing, and promotions to ensure operators are not targeting minors, high-risk and vulnerable individuals.
More gaming revenue stays in Alberta to help support the programs and services Albertans rely on every day.
A new provincial corporation called the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) will oversee the iGaming market while Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will serve as the market regulator.
This regulated framework allows Albertans to play on world-class gaming sites with the assurance that these sites are closely monitored for game integrity, player protections and responsible operations.
The AiGC has developed strong rules that gambling sites, and sport event betting sites have to follow to promote responsible gambling, protect vulnerable people, like youth and self-excluded players, and enhance game integrity. Players who want to ensure they are playing on a regulated site can look for the AiGC logo.
Playing on a regulated site, such as Casino Time, is a safer choice when betting in Alberta. Here are some of the benefits of playing on a regulated site:
| Benefits of Regulated sites | Risks of unregulated sites |
| Transparent play for all games is required. | Game transparency is not required. |
| Timely and accurate pay out of your winnings. | Payouts may not be timely or accurate and could be withheld or delayed. |
| Personal information and data are secure. | Your personal information and data may not be secured and your data could be exposed to third parties or the public without your consent. |
For more information on igaming regulation in Alberta check out Alberta’s iGaming Strategy | Alberta.ca
