Council Appreciates Provincial Changes to Charitable Gaming Funding

After many years of advocacy on this important topic, St. Albert City Council extends its appreciation to the Government of Alberta for announcing changes to the provincial charitable gaming model, which will ultimately enhance the sustainability of charities across Alberta. 

Starting in 2027, charities from rural areas and urban areas outside of Edmonton and Calgary will begin to receive a share of the proceeds generated by online gaming in Alberta. On November 3, 2026, Premier Danielle Smith announced that the Government of Alberta will be providing $14 million from online gambling revenue to charities operating in smaller municipalities.  

"St. Albert City Council is extremely pleased with this announcement," says Mayor Scott Olivieri. "The Province heard our call for a more equitable charitable gaming model, came up with a sustainable solution, and will be introducing a new funding approach that treats charities in St. Albert and other smaller communities across the province much more equitably, and in a way that does not impact the bottom line of charities in Edmonton and Calgary." 

The City of St. Albert has been a strong advocate for a new approach to gaming revenue for many years. An equitable provincial charitable gaming model is a key item within Council's 2026-2027 advocacy priorities and was also one of the two resolutions St. Albert successfully sponsored at the 2026 Alberta Municipalities Convention in September.  

"Volunteers are the heart of every charitable organization across the province, and they work tirelessly to raise funds to improve the lives of those living in their communities," says Olivieri. "Now, the efforts of volunteers working in St. Albert and other centres will receive enhanced levels of funding, more indicative of the effort and value they provide. A special thank you is owed to Minister Dale Nally for his support and advocacy on this topic, as well as MLA Renaud."  

Council continues to work on their remaining advocacy priorities. 

A complete list of Council’s Advocacy Priorities is available on the following webpage: https://stalbert.ca/cosa/leadership/advocacy/ 

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