TLDR
- Alberta is giving $2.4 million to Brick House Recovery Centre to support treatment for problem gamblers.
- The grant is an advance that iGaming operators will repay through a one percent share of profits.
- The province expects to earn $76 million from iGaming this year, with 31 legal sites now listed.
- Minister Dale Nally said the one percent rate will stay under review and could be raised if needed.
- Albertans facing gambling problems can call the 211 line, which is open 24/7.
Alberta has announced $2.4 million in funding for Brick House Recovery Centre. The money will support treatment and recovery programs for people with gambling problems.
The funding comes as the province builds out its regulated iGaming market. That market launched in mid-July under a plan to set aside one percent of profits for addiction treatment.
Brick House Recovery Centre has locations in Edmonton and Calgary. It also offers virtual support to clients and families across the province.
Province Pays First, Operators Pay Later
Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said the grant should be seen as an advance. The money will later be covered by funds from gaming companies now operating in Alberta.
Nally called the grant the first stage in the province’s plan to address problem gambling. He said operators will pay for treatment for anyone who struggles with gambling.
The province chose not to make people wait while it collects the one percent from gaming revenue. The grant lets treatment start now while payments from licensed operators are still on the way.
Alberta expects to earn $76 million from iGaming this year. That figure equals 20% of all revenue from legally regulated sites in the province.
The Alberta iGaming Corporation currently lists 31 sites as legally open for business. However, operators have not yet sent payments to the province.
Bringing an Existing Market Under Rules
Alberta joined Ontario as the only Canadian provinces to legalize online gaming. Nally has said the move was made because Albertans were already spending millions of dollars a year on offshore sites.
Before legalization, Betway reported an eight percent rise in Alberta revenue over the past year during an earnings call. Betway has been approved to launch in Alberta but has not done so yet.
The province has said its goal was not to create a new market. Instead, it wanted to bring an existing black market under control so it could be regulated and taxed.
Nally said the province is happy with the one percent rate for now. He noted that Alberta’s population is growing and that Ontario’s gaming revenue has gone well past early estimates.
Ontarians are gambling more than $9 billion per month this year. Nally said the rate in Alberta will always be open for review.
The government is tracking land-based casinos, which are growing by a couple of percent each year. It expects iGaming revenue to grow each year as well.
The province believes one percent will be enough to cover intensive outpatient treatment. Still, officials said they are ready to raise the rate if more funding is needed.
Dr. Lovneet Hayer, a co-founder of Brick House Recovery Centre, said the centre is committed to quality, recovery-focused care for people and families affected by gambling addiction. The goal is to offer hope, support, and a path to recovery.
The province advises anyone facing gambling problems to call 211, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The line connects people with support services right away.
