Operator Status Review Methodology

What this methodology covers

This methodology explains how Alberta iGaming Rules builds operator status pages, the operators hub and the operator status checker. The current site is not publishing ranked reviews, bonus lists or affiliate sign-up pages. The first job is narrower: identify what is publicly listed, what is live, what is pre-registration only, and what remains unconfirmed.

Status labels we use

We use separate labels for registration status and live status. Registration status answers whether an operator is matched from reviewed Alberta source material, usually with AGLC registry wording. Live status answers whether this site treats the operator as accepting Alberta real-money wagering, pre-registration only, not live or unclear. These labels should not be merged.

Source hierarchy

Official AGLC, AiGC, Alberta government and legislative sources are the highest-priority sources. Official operator statements can help confirm launch intent or site-specific wording, but they do not override regulator material. Dated industry media can add useful context, especially during a launch period, but it should not be the only support for a legal or live-status claim.

How we verify registry names

We record the consumer-facing brand separately from the AGLC registry name. The registry field should preserve the legal-entity wording closely enough that a reader can compare it against official materials. If a source uses an operating-as name, multiple trade names or a corporate name that does not match the consumer brand exactly, we show that instead of simplifying it away.

How we separate listed, pending, pre-registration and live

"Listed by AGLC" means the operator appears in reviewed Alberta source material. "Pending" is reserved for a source that clearly identifies an application or status as pending. "Pre-registration" means public onboarding interest was visible, but real-money wagering was not confirmed. "Live" is reserved for confirmed Alberta availability in the reviewed sources. A brand can be listed and still be not live.

What we do not rate before launch

Before a brand is live and source checks are complete, we do not rate bonuses, mobile apps, game libraries, withdrawal speed, support quality, odds, casino payout experience or VIP programs. Those claims require direct evidence and can become misleading if copied from another jurisdiction.

When an operator page can become a review

A status page can become a review only after Alberta availability is confirmed, the page has Alberta-specific evidence, commercial disclosure is visible, and review criteria are documented. A review must add original utility: payment checks, account-verification notes, safer-gambling checks, complaint-route testing or other work that goes beyond summarizing public registration status.

Future affiliate rules

Current pages contain no affiliate links. If paid links are introduced later, they must be disclosed clearly, marked with rel="sponsored nofollow", and recorded in the commercial disclosure and update log. A commercial relationship cannot change a registration label, live-status label or safer-gambling warning.

Safer gambling checks

Operator pages should check whether responsible-gambling tools are visible before deposit, whether limits and time-outs are easy to find, whether self-exclusion information is clear, and whether help resources are linked in a useful way. A page should never push a reader from uncertainty straight to signup.

Payments and withdrawal checks

We do not rate payment speed before we can observe or verify the Alberta flow. When reviews are introduced, payment sections should distinguish accepted deposit methods, withdrawal methods, identity verification, fees, limits and processing time. If a fact is not verified, it should stay unknown.

Bonus/promotional-content rules

Bonus pages and promotional claims are held to a higher threshold because they can influence deposits. A bonus claim must include current terms, eligibility, expiry or review date, wagering requirements where applicable, and a safer-gambling warning. No bonus page should be published only to capture search traffic before Alberta availability is clear.

Correction and re-review process

Corrections should be handled by checking the primary source, updating the affected page, recording material status changes in the registry change log and keeping unclear claims in the unknowns instead of guessing. Readers can use the corrections page or contact page to flag outdated legal names, broken sources or live-status changes.