Not many policy conversations in Alberta are driven by the notion of “how can we be more like Ontario?” and that’s been especially true when it comes to the regulation of various vices.

Despite Ontario’s recent loosening of liquor retail regulations, for example, Alberta paved the way for liberalization decades ago and remains the benchmark for delivering service, choice, and convenience — not to mention steady and reliable government revenue.

Similarly, Alberta’s approach to cannabis retail, which has been to leave it entirely in the hands of the private sector as opposed to Ontario’s decision to create a massive Crown corporation, has yielded much better results in terms of choice and government revenue.

But in this new world of legalized sports betting and online gaming, we find ourselves in a situation where Alberta’s approach is falling short and where the path forward has already been revealed to us by our friends in Ontario. But there’s also an opportunity for Alberta to build upon Ontario’s success and to be a........

© Calgary Herald