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C$2.4 Million for Treatment
Alberta is committing approximately C$2.4 million to expand gambling addiction treatment services across the province. The funding arrives roughly two months after Alberta launched its regulated iGaming market on July 13, a launch that brought 28 registered operators into the province’s new online market.
The province awarded the money to Brick House Recovery Centre, an Alberta-based addiction treatment provider with centres in Edmonton and Calgary and virtual services available province-wide. Brick House will use the grant to run a structured program for Albertans affected by gambling addiction: four weeks of outpatient treatment followed by up to eight weeks of individualized aftercare.
Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, who oversees the province’s iGaming market, framed the funding as a response to real harm.
“Gambling can ruin people’s lives and livelihoods,” said Nally. “If you don’t gamble today, you absolutely should not start tomorrow. For Albertans who choose to gamble and are struggling, we have your back, and we’re making sure real help is there when you need it.”
An Advance Against Future iGaming Revenue
The C$2.4 million is an advance, not a windfall from operator taxes already collected. Alberta plans to direct 1% of iGaming revenue toward social initiatives and responsible gambling measures, including addiction treatment, on top of a 2% allocation to First Nations and a 20% tax on operators. The government estimates the regulated market will generate around C$76 million in iGaming tax revenue in its first year, but that money takes time to reach government accounts.
Rather than wait for operator payments to accumulate, Alberta is covering the initial treatment costs itself through the C$2.4 million grant. Operators will fund the treatment allocation going forward as the regulated market matures. The approach lets the province expand access to specialized treatment before the iGaming sector has generated the revenue meant to pay for it.
Brick House’s Treatment Model
Brick House Recovery Centre is the first organization selected through the funding process Alberta set up ahead of the regulated market’s launch. Its program combines an intensive initial phase with longer individualized support, and the same treatment and aftercare are available virtually to residents who cannot reach the Edmonton or Calgary locations.
Dr. Lovneet Hayer, Brick House’s Chief Medical Officer and co-founder, said the organization is built around recovery-focused care for people and families affected by gambling addiction.
“As a leading provider of addiction and mental health treatment in Alberta, we are committed to helping individuals and families affected by gambling addiction access high-quality, recovery-focused care,” said Hayer. “Our goal is to offer hope, practical support and a path toward lasting recovery.”
Alberta plans to select additional treatment providers later this fall, expanding access to gambling addiction services beyond the initial Brick House program.
The 1% Allocation Stays Under Review
Alberta currently holds the responsible gambling and addiction treatment allocation at 1% of iGaming revenue, but officials have said the figure is not fixed. Nally said the province will track gambling revenue and treatment demand as the regulated market develops and could raise the allocation if that demand requires it.
For now, the C$2.4 million commitment gives Alberta an initial expansion of specialized treatment while the iGaming market ramps up, and it sets a funding link between the regulated market and the addiction services meant to offset it. Albertans experiencing gambling-related problems can also reach the provincial 211 service, which operates around the clock and connects residents with available resources.
The province’s next round of funding decisions this fall will show whether Brick House’s model becomes the template for how Alberta scales treatment access as iGaming revenue starts flowing in full.
Source: Government of Alberta
