With the success of the iGaming market in Ontario, Alberta is looking to it as a blueprint for its own plans in that arena. Despite this, there will likely be differences in the way the two provinces regulate this industry.  These potential differences will likely be based on the strategies laid out by Dale Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service and Red Tape Reduction.

The manner in which Alberta eventually decides to handle its iGaming regulations will be crucial to maintaining a healthy balance for the industry there. Many other regions have begun seeing the drawbacks of over-regulation in this field. As a result, many new-age casinos operating offshore have been gaining popularity over traditional ones that are often stifled by restrictions. 

This is because restrictions place more onerous burdens on operators and cause lengthy delays with everything from sign-up procedures to payout times. However, offshore casinos have become a revelation for players tied down by these restrictions. For example, crypto casinos and the perks found at sites like an instant payout casino have seen the number of players from regions like the US, UK, Asia, Europe, and even Canada soaring in recent years.

Instant payout casinos in particular have grown very popular in recent years as they offer players same-day access to their winnings. This phenomenon has been playing out amid ever-tightening regulations on iGaming sites being deployed in many prominent markets. 

While reasonable regulations have their benefits, many players feel that most jurisdictions are over-regulating the industry now and players have begun to respond by flocking to offshore sites. Instant payout casinos offer a perfect refuge since platforms like these feature fewer restrictions, more expansive gaming libraries, more privacy, and more generous bonuses.  

While Alberta is drawing heavily from Ontario’s regulatory guidelines, it also wants to retain some aspects that will distinguish it too. Minister Nally has indicated that Alberta will seek a less onerous regulatory regime than Ontario. However, as it is with Ontario, there won’t be a limit imposed on the number of iGaming operators permitted. These would also not require any partnerships with land-based casinos. 

This approach is expected to foster a competitive online betting environment. As such, huge operators are expected to set up shop there and operate freely alongside the government-run Play Alberta—which currently holds a monopoly.

Nally’s ministry has already been busy working on these new regulations and is set to keep being so as it will also be directly responsible for overseeing iGaming regulations and their enforcement. This ensures a separate regulatory body need not be created. It also addresses concerns raised by operators that Alberta’s Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) would have a conflict of interest if it managed the new regime as the AGLC is a market operator since it runs the Play Alberta platform.

All in all, Alberta’s approach currently does look good and at least considers the need for making it as simple as possible for new entrants to gain access to the market. Alberta’s method to  “conduct and manage” gambling activities is in direct contrast with Ontario’s, where iGaming Ontario (iGO) is simply a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The revenue-sharing model will also be looked at. Currently, Ontario operators are taxed 20% with the province making $790 million of them last year—with more expansion on the horizon. On that note, Alberta has hinted that it may seek a higher percentage. With other things like consults with indigenous communities and other stakeholders, and setting up transition periods for “grey” market operators, there is more work to be done. However, for now, the future of the iGaming industry in Alberta looks good indeed. 

The Canadian dollar enjoys very good reputation in financial circles and is used more frequently than you might expect for the currency of a relatively small country. It’s not rare for online payments to be
accounted in CAD on many different websites ranging from e-commerce stores to online casino sites.

There are several reasons why this is the case, and to truly understand the role that the Canadian dollar plays on the international scene today we need to look back at the early days of this currency. Canada’s past and present relations with other nations has shaped how Canadian money is used, and continues to affect its value in the era of digital trading without borders.

Brief History of the Canadian Dollar

Before it became a sovereign nation, Canada was trapped economically between its colonial master and its large neighbor. During the colonial era, several North American provinces that are today part of Canada found it impractical to use imperial money and created their local versions of the US dollar. In 1858, the Canadian dollar was established and almost 10 years before Canada became a country, the burgeoning nation replaced local currencies with its own money.

Originally the Canadian dollar was tied to the gold standard, but this practice was disrupted during
World War I and completely discontinued in 1933. In the post-war period its value was sometimes
pegged to the US dollar, with the rate changing over time but never getting too far from parity. This too was deemed too limiting, and after the 1950s CAD was allowed to have a floating value based on supply and demand in the market.

Today, CAD 100 is worth around $US 75, so whenever prices are shown in Canadian dollars their cost in the American equivalent is around 25% lower. A similar rate is maintained on exchanges across the
world, and Canadian dollars can be swapped for practically any other currency. Canadian dollars are
currently available in bank notes worth between $1 and $1000, while coins are still available for smaller denominations. The Bank of Canada is considering the possibility of issuing a digital version of CAD in the future, but there are no immediate plans to do so.

How Is CAD Regarded Today in Global Trade

Throughout its existence, Canadian dollar has proven to be exceptionally stable. It never experienced
large fluctuations in value as consequence of hyperinflation or other economic problems, and its rate vs. the US dollar has remained roughly similar for decades. This is in part because Canadian economy is strongly connected with the US, but also because the country exercises good financial governance and manageable levels of public debt.

Due to its status as a reliable and convertible currency, CAD is readily used for international transactions that involve Canadian companies or government. It is frequently used between third parties as well.  However the CAD is not on the same level in this role as $US, Euro, or Pound Sterling and is more similar by volume to Swiss franc and Singapore dollar. Many foreign banks also prefer to keep a portion of their reserves in Canadian dollars because of the low likelihood of a sudden loss of value.

A case from 2012 provides a great illustration of the reputation for stability that Canadian dollar enjoys. During a financial crisis in Iceland, there was a proposal for the tiny island nation to adopt CAD as its legal tender. While the plan was eventually abandoned, the fact that a foreign nation had a higher opinion about Canadian currency then its own is very telling.

The Role of CAD in Online Payments

Much like in traditional trading, Canadian dollar plays a significant role in online commerce. For online transactions within Canada, CAD is the default currency but it is also commonly used to pay for goods or services distributed internationally. Almost all leading digital payment services such as PayPal or Skrill support transactions in CAD, which means money can be instantly sent anywhere in the world. That greatly benefits Canadian citizens and others who keep their money in CAD as it allows them to save on conversion fees.

The penetration of CAD on online marketplaces is also considerable, but less than ideal. In general, you can pay for a lot of things on the internet without conversion since many companies based
elsewhere in the world are happy to accept Canadian money. Many online casinos, like  these slots in Canada, list CAD as one of supported currencies so you can just deposit your cash and not worry about
the exchange rates.

It’s fair to say that Canada is already punching above its weight when it comes to facilitating online
trade, but it could do even better. A concerted effort to promote the use of CAD outside of the country
could create additional benefits for the economy and fortify the value of CAD against American dollar
and other top currencies. It will be interesting to see how a national currency that’s almost two
centuries old will adapt to the changing landscapes of online commerce.