Online casino licence cost in Canada (2026)
Canada has no national licence: provinces decide. Ontario registers private operators through the AGCO for $100,000 per gaming site per year, and iGaming Ontario keeps 20% of gaming revenue. Alberta opened a regulated market on 13 July 2026 with a $50,000 application fee and $150,000 a year. Elsewhere online gambling is run by the provinces themselves.
Figures checked against official sources on 20 October 2026
Ontario: none beyond the registration fee; Alberta: $50,000
Ontario: $100,000 per gaming site; Alberta: $150,000
20% of gaming revenue kept by the province (Ontario, Alberta)
Licence types
Ontario: AGCO registration as an internet gaming operator
Online casino and betting, with an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.
Alberta: AGLC registration as an iGaming operator
Online casino and betting, with a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation. Operators could go live from 13 July 2026.
British Columbia: no private licences
PlayNow.com (BCLC) is the only legal online gambling site in the province.
Other provinces and territories: no private licences
Online gambling is conducted and managed by the provincial government.
AGCO / AGLC fees
| Fee | Amount | Charged on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario: registration fee | $100,000 | Per gaming site, per year, paid with the application for the chosen one- or two-year term; non-refundable | AGCO: Internet gaming fees |
| Ontario: investigation costs | Reasonable costs | Costs of investigating an applicant or registrant, charged as required on top of the registration fee | AGCO: Internet gaming registration guide |
| Ontario: regulatory cost recovery | Not published per operator | Operators' share of the AGCO's cost of regulating internet gaming | AGCO: Internet gaming registration guide |
| Alberta: application fee | $50,000 | One-time, iGaming operator registration, paid at submission | AGLC: iGaming registrations and fees |
| Alberta: annual registration fee | $150,000 | Per year, iGaming operator registration, paid at submission and on renewal | AGLC: iGaming registrations and fees |
Gaming tax
20%
Ontario: online casino and betting: Gaming revenue (wagers less winnings and eligible deductions) from Ontario players, kept by iGaming Ontario; 80% is paid back to the operator.
20%
Alberta: online casino and betting: Net iGaming revenue, kept by the province; 80% goes to the operator.
2% + 1%
Alberta: online casino and betting: Total gross gaming revenue: 2% to First Nations and 1% to social responsibility programmes.
Requirements that affect the cost
- Local entity or representative
- Ontario: operators do not need a business established in Canada.Source: iGaming Ontario: Operator FAQs
- Performance security
- Ontario: operators lodge a performance security with iGaming Ontario under the operating agreement (cash, letter of credit, surety bond or similar); the amount is not published.Source: iGaming Ontario: Financial statements 2022–2023
- Processing time
- Ontario: expect at least 90 days to be registered by the AGCO and sign the iGaming Ontario operating agreement.Source: iGaming Ontario: Operator FAQs
How to apply: AGCO: Apply to become an iGaming operator
Other costs to budget for
The licence and tax are only part of a launch budget. These costs vary too much by operator to give official figures, but every plan for Canada should account for them:
- Legal and licensing advisers for the application and ongoing compliance.
- Gaming platform and game content (B2B suppliers, often certified per market).
- Testing and certification of games and systems by an approved testing lab.
- Payments, identity verification (KYC) and responsible-gambling tooling.
- Local staff or a local representative, where the regulator requires one.
- Player acquisition: media, creative and affiliate costs within the market's advertising rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online casino licence cost in Canada?
AGCO / AGLC application fee: Ontario: none beyond the registration fee; Alberta: $50,000. Annual fee: Ontario: $100,000 per gaming site; Alberta: $150,000. Gaming tax: 20% of gaming revenue kept by the province (Ontario, Alberta). Platform, legal, testing and marketing costs come on top and vary by operator.
What is the online gambling tax in Canada?
20% for ontario: online casino and betting, charged on gaming revenue (wagers less winnings and eligible deductions) from Ontario players, kept by iGaming Ontario; 80% is paid back to the operator. 20% for alberta: online casino and betting, charged on net iGaming revenue, kept by the province; 80% goes to the operator. 2% + 1% for alberta: online casino and betting, charged on total gross gaming revenue: 2% to First Nations and 1% to social responsibility programmes.
Do you need a local company or representative in Canada?
Ontario: operators do not need a business established in Canada.
Planning a launch in Canada?
Once the licence is in place, we plan and run compliant display, video and DOOH campaigns in Canada, gated on licence, market and age before every bid.
Get a media planSources
- AGCO: Apply to become an iGaming operator
- AGCO: Internet gaming registration guide
- AGLC: iGaming compliance guide FAQs
- Government of British Columbia: Gambling in B.C.
- Criminal Code s. 207, Justice Laws
- AGCO: Internet gaming fees
- AGLC: iGaming registrations and fees
- iGaming Ontario: Financial statements 2022–2023
- Government of Alberta: iGaming factsheet
- iGaming Ontario: Operator FAQs
Figures are copied from official sources as published on the date shown and may change. This page is general information for planning, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm current fees and requirements with Provincial regulators (AGCO and iGaming Ontario, AGLC Alberta) and your advisers before applying.