Across Canada, the way people access entertainment is evolving. With the overwhelming success of the licensed internet gaming market in Ontario, it is evident that Canadians are ready to embrace the modern form of entertainment provided by the province. Ontario chose to allow private businesses to participate in its regulated gambling market, and it has been extremely successful. It now boasts of a flourishing business that benefits both the economy and the consumers of the products.

This case presents an excellent learning opportunity for Alberta. Unlike Ontario which allows for private players, Alberta follows the old-fashioned way of conducting its business. Although the current arrangement has its merits, it seems that Ontario’s strategy could be much better for the province. By emulating Ontario’s path, Alberta can offer its citizens more choices when it comes to entertainment while earning millions of dollars from the same venture.

Ontario’s Winning Plan

Ontario had planned on creating a competitive market. Rather than relying solely on one government website, the province opted to introduce a licensing system, allowing several well-established international firms to join the market. This strategy triggered a flood of investment and innovations in the industry. The introduction of competition is the key driver behind the market’s impressive performance.

The novel licensing scheme has brought about an influx of fresh revenue streams for the provincial coffers. This revenue stream has proved invaluable in financing essential services such as health care and education. Moreover, it has resulted in the creation of several lucrative tech jobs in areas such as software programming and data analysis. From the consumer’s perspective, the greatest advantage has been a wide range of choices. There are currently dozens of reliable and secure betting sites operated by reputable companies.

The entrance of large online casino operators such as BetMGM Casino Canada has introduced an immense selection of games and overall improved gaming experiences for their clients. This tactic has been remarkably effective in steering bettors from using illegal offshore websites toward regulated domestic platforms.

The Current Situation in Alberta

The approach in Alberta is different. In this case, the government follows a monopoly-based approach. Therefore, the only website offering online gaming and licensed for use by the residents of Alberta is the provincial one. This is certainly an approach that earns the province some revenue, but there are certain drawbacks.

First, the main problem with such an approach is the lack of competition, which leads to a lack of innovation in terms of technologies offered, variety of games, and other issues. Consequently, many Alberta residents interested in online games use many unlicensed “grey market” websites offered in the Internet.

Money used by users for gambling on such websites do not bring any revenue to the province since they leave both Alberta and Canada as a whole. There is also no way that such websites will pay taxes on their operations in the province.

What Alberta Could Gain

There will be significant advantages if Alberta decides to go down the route taken by Ontario and open up its market. Alberta’s large and increasing population means that there is tremendous market potential for entertainment companies. Creating a competitive environment with private firms would help capture a big chunk of the revenue flowing into the black market.

This would lead to a new stream of tax income for the Alberta government. The funds generated would be used for the provision of social services that can benefit all residents, including those living in the Lakeland region and urban areas such as Calgary and Edmonton.

Opening up the market would lead to the growth of Alberta’s tech industry. There will be employment opportunities for software developers, marketers, and call centers, among other professions.

Better Choices and Safety for Players

In addition, a competitive market would be an excellent opportunity for residents of Alberta. Having several platforms would offer a wide selection of choices that cater to each gamer’s preferences. The competition would ensure that there is greater diversity in game options and improved technological advancement.

Most significantly, the market would ensure the safety of all participants. All gambling companies would require licensing by the provincial government and would be subject to strict regulations concerning fairness in games, information security, and responsible gambling.

Furthermore, the companies would offer tools to regulate gambling activities for each player based on their needs and demands. It would ensure a safe environment compared to today, when many players use sites that offer no security or consumer protection services.

A Path Forward for Alberta

Ontario has proven the way forward clearly and successfully. The province has proven that an efficient and regulated market for online entertainment can achieve tremendous success. In addition to generating new tax revenues and creating jobs, it also provides the consumer with greater choice in a secure setting.

Now comes the time for Alberta to reap the benefits from the lesson learned. By updating its methods and adopting a competitive system, Alberta could achieve substantial economic benefits while at the same time offering its citizens the advanced and quality entertainment services they seek.

The blueprint has already been established. The only thing left to see is if Alberta will take the road ahead.