Alberta online sports betting laws
Alberta has embraced the new age of sports betting in Canada. Following the legalization of single-game wagering, the province has launched its own Alberta online sports betting platform, Play Alberta – and there may be more choice for bettors in the province in the years to come.
Is sports betting legal in Alberta?
Alberta sports betting is legal – and single-game wagers are now available for bettors in the province.
Is online sports betting legal in Alberta?
Yes. Alberta online sports betting received a huge boost with the launch of Play Alberta at the start of September 2021.
How old do I have to be to place a bet in Alberta?
Unlike most Canadian territories, where you have to be 19, Alberta is one of the provinces in Canada where you can place your first sports bet on your 18th birthday.
How do I start betting in Alberta?
Following the passage of bill C-218 by the Canadian government in August 2021, Alberta sports betting fans can now place single-game wagers online. The only licensed sports betting website in the province is Play Alberta, which is operated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). This is an impressive site with easy navigation around a broad range of markets on national and international sport.
The steps to follow to sign up for Alberta online betting are as follows:
Find your way to the Play Alberta website and hit the Sign Up button.
Enter all your details to verify your identity, age and location within the boundaries of Alberta.
Deposit funds in your new account.
Look for a sign-up bonus - however, you may be unable to use this for sports betting.
You’re all set to enjoy Alberta online betting.
Is Sports betting legal in Alberta?
Many Alberta sports fans have longed for years for the opportunity to place single-game wagers on their favorite teams and events. This is a province of four million people, many of them lovers of sport and especially the rivalry between teams from the two big cities, Calgary and Edmonton.
However, until the summer of 2021 the only sports bets that could be placed were parlays, in which you must select two or more outcomes – all of which had to win for you to collect. The Alberta sports betting landscape changed, however, with the passage of the bill C-218 by the Canadian national government.
Following a sustained campaign, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, also known as C-218, was passed by the Canadian government in August 2021. Under the terms of the bill, each Canadian province became able to license single-game wagering and online sports betting if it wished to do so.
Alberta had been one of the provinces pushing for legalization – and in the immediate aftermath of the bill’s passage, on September 1 2021, the sports betting platform at Play Alberta went live. At last, Alberta online sports betting fans were able to enjoy single-game wagering. Albertans can also place in-person bets at retail locations offering the Sport Select products run by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation – this service may expand to offer single-game wagers in future.
As things stand, Play Alberta is the only operator licensed to offer online sports betting in the province. However, many people here use unlicensed offshore sportsbooks. Over the years, billions of dollars have been staked with these operators. Their activities are perfectly legal, but nonetheless they are unlicensed.
Betting with an unlicensed sportsbook can leave you without legal recourse in the event of a dispute. It will be fascinating to see whether or not Alberta opens the door to established international operators to compete in the market place here. Expanding the market in this way would mean huge competition for betting dollars in the province – and improved customer experience for the sports bettors here.
One particularly attractive aspect to Alberta online betting is the fact that all forms of gambling winnings in Canada are exempt from income tax. The Canadian government takes the view that such winnings are not a constant source of income, unlike employment or property proceeds.
However, you should be aware that if you earn interest on those winnings, you should declare that on your T5 form – or face a fine. You will also become liable for tax if you become a professional gambler and make a living from sports betting.
Who is allowed to bet on sports in Alberta?
Alberta is viewed as one of the most progressive and liberal provinces in Canada when it comes to sports betting. However, there are still some restrictions that apply to anybody who wants to place a wager on their favorite sports.
In most Canadian provinces, the minimum age for gambling is 19. Alberta is one of a few locations, however, where you can place a bet once you have reached the age of 18. This is consistent with the 59 casinos licensed to operate in the province.
It is a standard requirement of most current online sportsbooks that you can use them only if you are located in the territory where they are licensed to operate. This rule is enforced by geo-location technology that will reveal your location. So, if you want to enjoy the services of Play Alberta, you will need to be physically present in the province – and not in an area, such as Saskatchewan, where single-game online betting is not currently permitted.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Alberta
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games are legal across Canada. There has never been a law specifically prohibiting them here – unlike the confused situation in some parts of the United States. As a result, major DFS operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel have been offering games to sports fans in Alberta for many years.
In the process, they have built large and loyal followings. At the same time, both have developed a sportsbook capability that has been rolled out in several states south of the border. If Alberta does decide to offer licenses to international sportsbooks, DraftKings and FanDuel will have a significant edge thanks to their existing profile in Canada.
Top sports to bet on in Alberta
More than four million people live in the province – and it seems that most of them take a side when it comes to the Battle of Alberta between the two biggest hockey teams here. This is a province that takes its sport very seriously indeed – and will welcome the opportunity to bet on it.
Hockey
With the Edmonton Oilers in one corner, and the Calgary Flames in the other, the Battle of Alberta never disappoints, and fans look forward to their NHL clashes for months. Given that hockey is a religion in Canada, all NHL action is devoured voraciously, meaning betting on the action is always going to be lively.
Responsible gambling in Alberta
Alberta sports betting is a well-established activity, and the need for it to be conducted responsibly is also widely recognized. Most people enjoy sports betting as a harmless bit of leisurely fun to while away the hours and be more involved with their favorite events or teams. For a minority, however, gaming can lead to addiction which, in turn, causes mental health issues and financial problems. Several agencies exist in Alberta to point the way towards responsible gambling – and to offer assistance in the form of resources and practical help to those who may need it.
The Responsible Gambling Council, set up many decades ago, is widely seen as the principal resource for assistance in Canada.
Problem Gambling is an organization with a vast stock of responsible gambling tools to help people who may have a problem.
The AGLC offers a guide to responsible gambling and links to various resources including a self-exclusion program.
The Play Alberta website includes a Gamesense page, which has tips, a helpline and links to other problem gambling resources.
Where can you bet in Alberta?
With the launch of Play Alberta, as long as you are 18 you can enjoy Alberta online sports betting anywhere in the province provided you have a mobile signal. You can also get involved in your favorite sporting action through the Sport Select facilities available at a wide variety of retail locations across the province. Alberta is also home to an impressive total of 59 land-based casinos. It will be interesting to see if sports betting facilities become available at these premises as the market matures in the years to come.
Single-game online sports betting in Canada
Our interactive map shows the status of betting in each Canadian province and territory. Betting is legal nationwide, but some provinces only allow parlay betting – bets made up of multiple selections, rather than a single one. Other provinces allow single-game online sports betting, as well as parlay betting.
Also note that many licensed offshore websites offer legal alternatives, and our map represents provincially regulated options only.
- Single game betting
- No single game betting
Alberta betting FAQs
Yes, Alberta sports betting is legal. You can bet on sport in retail premises that carry the Sport Select products – or online at Play Alberta, where you can enjoy single-game wagering too. There are many legal offshore sportsbooks offering markets to people in the province, but these remain unlicensed at this stage.
Yes, it is. However, the choice of Alberta betting sites is limited at the moment to Play Alberta. The good news is that it is a technically good site with plenty of betting choice. It will be intriguing to see if the market is broadened in future to license international sportsbooks to operate Alberta betting sites.
As things stand, the choice of Alberta betting sites is limited – and it remains to be seen whether licenses will be offered to international operators to increase the competition for online betting dollars in the province. More competition should mean better customer experience and healthier bonuses for bettors.
Cash out is a recent addition to sportsbooks’ proposition and emerged in the aftermath of the arrival of in-play betting. It allows you to close down a bet early, before the event it was placed on is over, to limit your losses or ensure a profit. Play Alberta does offer a cash-out facility on certain matches and events.