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Online Gambling in Alberta Guide
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It’s fair to say that Alberta is one of Canada’s most forward-thinking provinces when it comes to gambling. Albertans have been enjoying online casinos for the past quarter-century, while Ontario is the only Canadian province with more land-based casinos.
More than 80% of adults in “Wild Rose Country” gamble at least once a year. If every Albertan adult knew about the best Canadian gambling sites, that percentage would almost certainly be even higher.
Naturally, our top-ranked Canadian gambling sites are the best options for residents of Alberta. All of our recommendations boast unrivalled safety and security, tons of gambling options, juicy bonuses and promotions, and a whole lot more.
On this page, we cover everything you need to know about gambling in Alberta. We look at the province’s online gambling laws, land-based casinos, mobile gambling opportunities, popular gambling options, and everything in between.
Alberta’s motto is “Strong and Free”. Funnily enough, we think that’s a fair reflection of the region’s gamblers.
Alberta Online Gambling Laws and Regulation
Online gambling has been legal in Canada since 1996. Following the introduction of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Sports Interaction launched in 1997. To this day, Sports Interaction remains one of Canada’s most popular online gambling sites.
However, Canada’s gambling laws are not as straightforward as other countries’ gambling laws. Each province has its own regulations, meaning Albertans have their own set of rules to abide by.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) is the government agency that regulates gambling in “Wild Rose Country”. Established in 1996, AGLC oversees both online and land-based gambling in the province.
It is also worth noting that Alberta’s minimum gambling age is 18. In most Canadian provinces, players must be over the age of 19 to gamble legally. But Alberta’s laws are more lenient in this department.
At this moment in time, PlayAlberta.ca is the only licensed and regulated gambling site in the province. The platform was created by NeoPollard Interactive and features a wide variety of online slots, table games, video poker games, and scratch cards. In September 2021, sports betting was added to the site.
That said, plenty of Albertans – and Canadians in general – use offshore online casinos and sportsbooks. Although it is illegal to operate an online casino in Canada without a license, there are no laws preventing residents from using unlicensed sites or sites that are licensed in another province. That means Albertans can use offshore gambling sites that are registered in other countries. Here are a few examples of some of the most popular sites.
Land-Based Gambling in Alberta
Alberta’s first permanent, privately-owned casino opened in Calgary in 1980, with the second opening in Edmonton the following year. Since then, brick-and-mortar casinos have continued to pop up across the province.
Here are some key facts about land-based casinos in Alberta.
- Alberta has 28 licensed casinos
- There are 24 Vegas-style casinos and four machine-based venues
- Most of Alberta’s casinos are located in Edmonton and Calgary
- The province has roughly 6,000 video lottery terminals (VLTs) across more than 1,200 locations
- Alberta is home to 25+ bingo halls, 80+ keno facilities, and 2,500+ ticket lottery centers
Interestingly, a large portion of Alberta’s gambling proceeds is used to fund charitable organizations within the province. Much of the net gaming income is deposited into the General Revenue Fund, financing supportive initiatives for Albertans.
Although the best Canadian online casinos are growing in popularity, many Albertans continue to flock to land-based casinos to gamble.
Mobile Gambling Opportunities for Albertans
There is no shortage of mobile gambling options for residents of Alberta. Thanks to the province’s favorable laws, Albertans can enjoy online casino games, sports betting, and other forms of gambling on their mobile devices.
Most online casinos have a mobile-compatible site, a downloadable app, or both. That makes it easy for Albertans to enjoy slots, tables games, and other casino classics via their smartphones and tablets. Some players prefer the convenience of having an app downloaded on their phone, while other players prefer visiting the mobile site without having to download anything. Either way, your casino options will be the same.
Mobile-optimized websites are the most common way to access mobile casino and betting site. They work with all of the mainstream operating systems, including iOS, Android, and Windows. These websites are very similar to the desktop versions, which makes them easy to navigate.
Residents of Alberta can also access the top Canadian sports betting sites on their portable devices. Given that some of the best online sportsbooks for Canadians are offshore sites, many gamblers opt to wager on sports via sites that are licensed and regulated in another country.
Play Alberta has a mobile-optimized website and the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) even has a downloadable app. Players can use the WCLC Lottery Manager app to enter draws and check their numbers. No matter what kind of gambling you are interested in, it is easy to access your favorite sites from any mobile device.
Popular Gambling Options in Alberta
Like anywhere else on earth, certain forms of gambling are more popular than others in Alberta. Due to the province’s sports teams, unique casino games, and other factors, the majority of Albertans enjoy specific kinds of gambling.
Below, we look at two popular gambling options in Alberta. One is a special slot machine, while the other relates to sports betting.
Diamond Millions Progressive Slot Machines
The Diamond Millions slot machine is exclusive to Alberta. This famous progressive slot machine is found at casinos and racetracks across the province and is hugely popular with the region’s gamblers.
As the name suggests, the Diamond Millions slot dishes out life-changing wins. The jackpot is set at $1 million and grows until a lucky player lands the top prize. Better yet, the denomination used for the game is just $1.
It is thought that the Diamond Millions slot machine has turned at least 13 Albertans into millionaires over the years. No wonder it’s so popular!
Betting on Alberta’s NHL Teams
Ice hockey is the most watched and most played sport in Canada. Accordingly, it is among the country’s most popular sports to bet on.
Alberta has not one, but two NHL franchises – the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. The cities’ proximity has led to a rivalry known as the “Battle of Alberta”, and these showdowns invariably garner a ton of attention from the region’s sports bettors.
That said, those who enjoy betting on hockey in Alberta aren’t limited to wagering solely on the local teams. NHL betting is extremely popular throughout the province and always generates plenty of income for sportsbooks.
Alberta’s Responsible Gambling Resources
Viewed by millions as a form of entertainment, gambling is meant to be fun. But it doesn’t come without risks. That’s why it is vitally important that gamblers have access to useful resources if they need any help.
As we already mentioned, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission regulates gambling in Alberta. Thankfully, AGLC offers a self-exclusion program for people at risk of addiction, while other organizations have similar resources to take advantage of.
Here are some responsible gambling tools for Albertans.
- AGLC’s Self-Exclusion Program
- This program enables gamblers to exclude themselves from all Alberta casinos and racing entertainment centers. The length of exclusion ranges from six months to three years.
- GameSense
- Operated by AGLC, GameSense is a website that explains how gambling works and the risks involved. Gamblers can click on the “Get Support” tab at the top of the homepage for professional help.
- Problem Gambling Resources Network Alberta
- This organization offers presentations to show how gambling can impact the community and individuals. Follow the “Help & Recovery” tab on the homepage to find out more.
- Alberta Health Services
- Alberta Health Services (AHS) offer programs to assist problem gamblers. Call 1-866-332-2322 to reach their 24-hour helpline.
- Alberta Gamblers Anonymous
- There are Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings every day of the week across Alberta. GA gives people the chance to share their experiences and helps beat problem gambling.
As you can see, there is no shortage of responsible gambling resources for Albertans to make use of. It is important to remember that you can always reach out to these organizations if necessary.
Alberta Gambling FAQ
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