Contents
- 1 Alberta Sports Betting: Top Sportsbooks & Legal Updates
- 1.1 Top Alberta Sportsbooks
- 1.2 Alberta Sports Betting: Fun Facts
- 1.3 Best Alberta Sportsbooks
- 1.4 Everything You Need to Know About Legal Betting in Alberta
- 1.5 Alberta Sports Betting Industry Updates
- 1.6 How to Start Betting in Alberta
- 1.7 Popular Teams in Alberta
- 1.8 Other Types of Gambling in Alberta
- 1.9 Betting Apps in Alberta
- 1.10 Land-Based Casinos in Alberta
- 1.11 How to Play Responsibly in Alberta
- 1.12 Which Sportsbooks to Avoid
Alberta Sports Betting: Top Sportsbooks & Legal Updates
The world of single-game sports betting opened to Alberta in September 2021. Restricted to persons aged 18 and older, sports betting in Alberta is currently regulated by the AGLC, the governing body of gambling in the province. My aim with this article is to inform Albertans of the sports betting scene—single-game sports betting is a form of entertainment, and I want to ensure you’re well-prepared for your first bet.
Top Alberta Sportsbooks
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Alberta Sports Betting: Fun Facts
| Legal Age | 18 |
| Retail Sportsbooks | Yes |
| Launch Date | Sept 1, 2021 |
| Esports Betting | Yes |
| Horse Racing Betting | Yes |
| Provincial Sportsbook | Play Alberta |
| Revenue | $1.5 billion |
Best Alberta Sportsbooks
There is a huge variety of sports betting sites available for Alberta gamblers, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, look no further:
| Sportsbook | Best for |
|---|---|
| Betovo | Welcome Bonus |
| Beonbet | Wide betting markets |
| TonyBet | Parlay Bets |
| LeoVegas | Mobile betting |
| Betista | Ongoing promos |
Betovo
Betovo arrived on the Canadian market quite recently and has gained substantial success amongst gamblers of all experience levels. Betovo has an extremely appealing user interface and great coverage of the top games Albertans love.
- Pros: Bet builder, excellent sports coverage
- Cons: No mobile app
- Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Interac, Apple Pay, Crypto
Beonbet
Beonbet is a new sports betting site in Canada that Alberta bettors will enjoy for its appealing user interface and wide betting markets. The sportsbook is especially strong for esports betting, with esports live streams and special esports promos including a 111% deposit match esports welcome bonus.
- Pros: In-depth stats, many esports betting markets, great UI
- Cons: Limited banking options
- Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Interac
TonyBet
TonyBet offers sports fans extensive market coverage for the major North American sports, the tennis Grand Slams, and major golf events like the PGA Tour. TonyBet offers deep live betting options, including e-Sports, and a great variety of sports bonuses.
- Pros: Great sports bonuses, betting guides, licensed in Canada
- Cons: No mobile app
- Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Interac, Payz, MiFinity, INSTADEBIT, MuchBetter, Jeton, Paysafecard
LeoVegas
LeoVegas was founded in 2012, making it one of the oldest sportsbooks available in Alberta. It has a solid reputation, fair odds, a great mobile sportsbook site, and wide sports betting markets. Standout features include daily boosted bets and a $1,000 weekly parlay profit boost promo.
- Pros: Canadian license, parlay boost and boosted odds, loyalty rewards
- Cons: Few ongoing promos
- Payment Options: Interac, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Neosurf, MuchBetter
Betista
All the best sportsbooks in Alberta have NFL, NBA, and NHL betting markets, but very few have as many niche betting options as Betista. If you like cricket, tennis, darts, or other less-popular sports, you are sure to find more betting options at Betista than at other sites.
- Pros: Comprehensive betting markets, wide variety of promos
- Cons: Little licensing information
- Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Interac, Apple Pay, Crypto
Everything You Need to Know About Legal Betting in Alberta
Betting in Alberta changed in 2021. With the approval of Bill C-218, the province was able to manage their own sportsbook and single-game sports betting, and the years since have seen the province flourish in betting-related revenue.
Is sports betting legal in Alberta?
Yes! Single-game sports betting became legal in Alberta on September 1, 2021, becoming the 8th province to offer single-game betting. This also entailed the launch of PlayAlberta. Since the approval of single-game sports betting, the province has seen an impressive rise in revenue that only continues to climb.
What is single-game sports betting?
With single-game sports betting, you can wager on the outcome for one game. Before Bill C-218 was approved, bettors in Canada would need to combine multiple picks into a parlay. This also means that provinces are able to conduct and manage single-game sports betting events within their own borders.
How did sports betting become legal in Alberta?
Bill C-218 was the stepping stone to legal sports betting in Alberta. The bill was proposed to amend the Criminal Code and legalize single-game sports betting in Canada. In June 2021, Bill C-218 received approval from the Senate. A week later, it received royal assent from the Chief Justice of Canada, Richard Wagner. In September 2021, AGLC announced that single-game sports betting was live on PlayAlberta, Alberta’s first regulated online sportsbook. Later in 2021, the AGLC began accepting applications from vendors interested in entering the Alberta sports betting market.
Who can bet on sports in Alberta?
Sports betting in Alberta is legal for everyone above the legal age of 18, though certain sportsbooks require players to be over 19. Bettors in the province do NOT have to pay taxes on their winnings and can access betting sites via mobile or desktop.
Are offshore sportsbooks available in Alberta?
Yes, offshore sportsbooks can be accessed from Alberta — they are considered a legal grey area and are operated outside of provincial borders. The majority of offshore sportsbooks available will be legitimate, but ensure you do proper research before signing up and depositing.
What does the future hold for sports betting in Alberta?
Estimated to be in excess of $10 billion annually in Canada alone, it’s clear why provinces wanted to legalize this business. As the world of single-game sports betting continues to grow in the province, we’ll see direct impacts in the community. Physical sportsbooks operating in the United States have already blazed a path, and it’s only a matter of time until Canadian provinces follow suit.
Alberta Sports Betting Industry Updates
- June 2024: Study released showing a majority of Alberta sports betting is done with illegal operators.
- August 2024: PENN CEO discusses the possibility of a regulated Alberta sports betting market like Ontario, calling it a “very strong market.”
- October 2024: Canadian senators considering a bill to limit sports betting companies’ advertising.
- October 2024: Alberta’s minister hints at an Ontario-style regulated market arrival.
- May 2025: Alberta passes iGaming Alberta Act, opening its sports betting market to privately-owned sportsbooks similar to Ontario.
How to Start Betting in Alberta
Create an account at one of our recommended betting sites. Quick and straightforward, requiring some personal details.
Deposit funds using your preferred payment method. Interac, Visa, Mastercard, and crypto are the most popular options.
Familiarise yourself with the operator, get a sense of how they work, and where you might find advantages.
Popular Sports to Bet on in Alberta
Hockey
Like many parts of Canada, hockey dominates Alberta. The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers are wildly popular among bettors. Away from the NHL, Albertans also hammer odds on Major Junior hockey, especially the WHL. There is extra love for tournaments such as the Olympics or World Juniors.
American Football
Despite the province not housing an NFL franchise, the NFL and CFL are huge markets. The NFL gets plenty of love throughout the season, with Albertans favouring the Minnesota Vikings. The Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders are also popular picks among bettors.
Basketball
The province has seen a spike in interest ever since the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA championship and that support has not wavered. Professional basketball continues to be a hot commodity for bettors in Alberta.
Soccer
Cavalry FC (Calgary) are the lone team in Alberta (CPL), but bettors support all professional leagues including the EPL and MLS. Every major professional soccer league is represented thanks to Alberta’s diverse culture. Professional leagues in Germany, France, and other European countries receive extra attention.
Baseball
Canada has deep roots in professional baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays are Canada’s team. With Alberta being close to Washington state, the Seattle Mariners receive plenty of love as well. The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox also have support in Alberta. Bettors focus on MLB betting but other leagues and tournaments like the World Baseball Classic garner special attention.
Most Popular Betting Markets
- Moneyline: The most straightforward betting market — selecting a team to win straight up. If you back a team to win and they win the game, you win the bet.
- Spread: The spread balances two teams by taking away points from the favourite and awarding them to the underdog. If the Flames are listed at –1.5, they would need to win by 2+ goals to win the bet.
- Totals (Over/Under): Betting on the total number of points scored in a game. In an NBA game with an o/u of 212.5, you bet on whether there will be 213+ or 212 or fewer points scored.
- Parlays: The combination of multiple bets into a single wager. All legs must win for the parlay to pay out — higher risk, higher reward.
- Futures: A wager on an event that will not happen immediately, such as the Stanley Cup Champion or World Series winner.
- In-Play (Live Betting): Bets placed after play has begun with live-updating odds correlated to score and momentum.
- Props: Proposition bets not directly tied to the outcome of the game — from total shots by a player to the first commercial shown at the Super Bowl.
Can You Bet on University Sports in Alberta?
Despite being a focal point on campus, university sports aren’t as prominent as NCAA athletics. Finding odds on the Calgary Dinos or Alberta Golden Bears would be quite challenging.
Popular Teams in Alberta
The province of Alberta is rich in sports history. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers (NHL) are the province’s two major teams. The CFL reigns supreme with the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks. Soccer fans follow Cavalry FC (CPL) and lacrosse fans can follow the Calgary Roughnecks (NLL). Junior hockey teams like the Medicine Hat Tigers, Edmonton Oil Kings, Calgary Hitmen, Red Deer Rebels, and Lethbridge Hurricanes are also popular. Beyond provincial teams, the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Toronto Raptors (NBA), and Minnesota Vikings (NFL) hold a special place in Albertans’ hearts.
Other Types of Gambling in Alberta
Online Casinos
Online casinos are another huge betting market in Alberta. Much like a regular casino, online casinos feature real winnings and real games including poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, slots, and many more.
Live Dealers
Bettors in Alberta can take advantage of betting sites that offer live casinos with real dealers serving cards. This includes markets like poker and blackjack. The addition of live dealers has taken gambling in Alberta to new heights.
Betting Apps in Alberta
For many bettors, there is nothing more important than a great betting app. Several Alberta sports betting sites offer apps for users. Since the market is not fully regulated like Ontario, there are fewer betting apps available — but the apps that are available are excellent.
| App | Android Rating | iOS Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Interaction | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| 888Sport | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| TonyBet | N/A | 2.8 |
| LeoVegas | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Betway | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| bet365 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Bwin | N/A | 4.0 |
| Bet99 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
Land-Based Casinos in Alberta
Alberta has numerous land-based casinos, with almost 20 different tribal and land-based casinos across the province.
| Casino Name | Address |
|---|---|
| ACE Casino Airport | 40 Aero Cres NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7Y5 |
| Cash Casino | 4040 Blackfoot Tr SE, Calgary, AB |
| Cowboys Casino | 421 12 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1A5 |
| Deerfoot Inn & Casino | 11500 – 35 St SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3W4 |
| Grey Eagle Casino | 3777 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary, AB T3E 3X8 |
| Casino Edmonton | 7055 Argyll Road, Edmonton, AB T6C 4A5 |
| Century Casino | 24 Boudreau Rd, St. Albert, AB T8N 6K3 |
| Grand Villa Edmonton Casino | 10204 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB |
| Starlight Casino Edmonton | 8882 170 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5T 4J2 |
| Rivers Casino Fort McMurray | 9825 Hardin St, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4G9 |
| ACE Casino Red Deer | 6350 67 St, Red Deer, AB T4P 3L7 |
| Pure Casino Lethbridge | 3756 2nd Ave S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4Y9 |
How to Play Responsibly in Alberta
Obeying the law is not the only way to bet responsibly in Alberta — you also want to consider your own wellbeing. Whenever you join a sportsbook, look at what policies are in place to help bettors have an enjoyable and safe experience. This could be in the form of self-exclusions, time limits, deposit limits, credit card restrictions, and other means of restrictions.
Temporarily or permanently block yourself from betting sites
Set daily or weekly time limits on your betting activity
Control your spending with daily, weekly or monthly caps
The AGLC operates GameSense, an online portal for responsible betting. The Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is available at 1-866-332-2322.
Which Sportsbooks to Avoid
Avoid sportsbooks that allow underage gambling or operate without a license.
Check customer service options and number of banking options before signing up.
Reading user reviews can help make an educated decision about any sportsbook.
Licensed sportsbooks are regulated by the AGLC. Avoid those with no visible license.
Why Licensing Matters
Licensed sportsbooks are regulated and trusted by the AGLC, meaning they have to abide by stricter rules than non-licensed bookmakers. Among other things, this means you can contact the gambling commission if needed. Licensed sites offer quicker payouts, great bonuses, more customer service options, a proven track record, and a clearly identifiable license.
PlayAlberta
PlayAlberta is the only regulated online gambling site in the province. The purpose of PlayAlberta is to keep money spent in Alberta in the province — the generated revenue goes directly back into the Government of Alberta’s General Revenue Fund.
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What is the legal age of sports betting in Alberta?
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Do you have to pay tax on winnings in Alberta?
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What is single-game sports betting?
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Are offshore sportsbooks available in Alberta?
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What is PlayAlberta?
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Can you access US sportsbooks in Alberta?