Alberta’s government has opened a call for proposals to expand services for people with gambling problems as the province rolls out its regulated online gaming market.
Funding tied to iGaming revenues
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction said the new programs would be financed by revenue from Alberta’s regulated iGaming system, which officially launched last month. In a public notice published Monday, the ministry said it seeks services and supports that will supplement existing offerings, including those available through Recovery Alberta, such as a 21-day, bed-based treatment program, and current hotlines.
"Nobody should have to struggle with addiction alone, including gambling-related addiction,"
The government has set a revenue model for the new market that will funnel a portion of gross receipts into public coffers and social responsibility initiatives. Under the framework announced with the launch, the province will take a 20 per cent cut of revenues from each private operator and will set aside 1 per cent for social responsibility measures, the ministry said.
| Revenue allocation | Portion |
|---|---|
| Provincial share from private operators | 20% |
| Set-aside for social responsibility initiatives | 1% |
Growth of online gambling drives new needs
The ministry’s request for expressions of interest explicitly links the expansion of supports to the growing prevalence of online gambling, which it describes as creating “new challenges” for prevention and treatment. Almost two dozen private sportsbooks and casinos were ready to accept bets on launch day, and the province says five more operators have started up in the weeks since.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally has framed the regulated market as a way to steer Albertans away from the black market and to provide safer options, but has acknowledged the province may see an uptick in problem gambling as accessibility and advertising increase.
What the government is seeking — and what exists now
The call for proposals asks for services that go beyond Recovery Alberta’s programs and current hotlines. The ministry did not list specific service models in the public notice, but signalled an openness to a range of supports for prevention, early intervention and treatment.
- Existing services referenced: Recovery Alberta’s 21-day bed-based treatment and existing hotlines.
- New funding source: revenues from the regulated iGaming market.
- Government rationale: growth of online gambling creates new prevention and treatment challenges.
The notice stops short of naming target funding levels for individual programs or timelines for awarding contracts. It does, however, make clear the government intends to use iGaming proceeds for social responsibility initiatives, including addiction services or educational campaigns.
Public and policy questions ahead
Health-care providers, addiction specialists and community organisations will be watching how the province balances industry expansion and consumer protections. The promise of a dedicated funding stream from iGaming revenue could expand treatment capacity, but precise program design — who delivers services, eligibility, geographic distribution and measurement of outcomes — will be determined through the procurement and contracting processes the ministry now begins.
Advocates have previously warned that online platforms, single-click access and an abundance of advertising can increase the risk of problem gambling. The ministry emphasised prevention and treatment will be part of the social responsibility work funded by the new market.
For Albertans concerned about problem gambling, Recovery Alberta remains a primary publicly referenced resource, with bed-based treatment and hotline options currently available while the province solicits further proposals.
The government’s request for expressions of interest is the next formal step in setting up a broader system of supports tied to the regulated iGaming market. How quickly new programs will be approved and operational depends on the volume and quality of proposals the ministry receives and the subsequent procurement timeline.
As the regulated market expands and more operators come online, the province faces the task of directing a portion of industry proceeds into services that can respond to increased demand for prevention and treatment.
