EDMONTON — Alberta is now considering getting on board with online gambling.
Currently, it is legal for Albertans to gamble online, but it’s against the law to operate a site based here in the province.
British Columbia and Quebec now allow their citizens to operate online gambling sites, and Ontario is planning to do the same.
Alberta officials say they are monitoring what other jurisdictions are doing and what programs are being offered.
Doug Horner, Alberta’s deputy premier, says while there are pros to be considered, the formal decision may still be a ways off.
He says more study is needed.
“I don’t think Albertans want us making decisions on what our gut tells us,” said Horner.
“We want to have good information and that’s what the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is working on.”
Right now, B.C. has hit a bit of a roadblock with online gambling over privacy concerns.
“There was a bit of play with other people’s money,” said Michael Graydon with the B.C. Lottery Corporation.
Statistics show the average Alberta adult spends nearly $1,000 a year gambling, which is twice the national average.
Ontario hopes to have online gambling up and running by 2012 and estimates earning $100 million a year within the first five years of start up.