Alberta Sports Betting in 2024
Alberta became the 8th Canadian province to offer single-game sports betting, coinciding with the launch of online sports betting on Play Alberta, the province’s only online gambling platform.
Should Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) decide to welcome third-party platforms into the fold — such as PointsBet, FanDuel Ontario, and others — it could give new meaning to the Battle of Alberta. With over four million residents, Alberta would be a highly desirable market for top online sportsbooks.
Follow this guide for the latest news and updates on sports betting in Alberta.
Canada’s best sportsbooks
- More details
- Show less
- Sports Interaction Benefits
- Terrific live betting
- No fee banking
- Strong market coverage
- Sports Interaction Review
- More details
- Show less
- TonyBet Benefits
- Extensive VIP program
- 2,000+ events to bet on
- Canadian-friendly deposit methods
- TonyBet Review
- More details
- Show less
- bet365 Benefits
- Deposits via Interac
- Best prices
- Gold standard layout
- bet365 Review
- More details
- Show less
- Pinnacle Benefits
- Good coverage for the most popular sports
- Low margins
- High betting limits
- Pinnacle Review
- More details
- Show less
- LeoVegas Benefits
- Rich offering for live streaming
- Award-winning mobile betting platform
- Supports English and French language
- LeoVegas Review
- More details
- Show less
- PowerPlay Benefits
- 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support
- More than 30 sports
- Various deposit bonuses
- PowerPlay Review
- More details
- Show less
- Casumo Benefits
- Modern and sleek sportsbook interface
- No transaction fees and fast payouts
- Award-winning online betting operator
- Casumo Review
- More details
- Show less
- NEO.bet Benefits
- Accepts Interac
- Sharp betting odds
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- NEO.bet Review
- More details
- Show less
- 888sport Benefits
- Awesome interface
- Lots of live streaming options
- Frequent promos
- 888sport Review
- More details
- Show less
- BET99 Benefits
- Over 75,000 sporting events a month
- Lots of player props
- Accepts Interac and crypto
- BET99 Review
- More details
- Show less
- BetVictor Benefits
- Fast withdrawals
- Sharp football odds
- Live PGA Tour Streaming
- BetVictor Review
- More details
- Show less
- Betway Benefits
- Modern betting platform
- Convenient banking
- Dedicated loyalty program
- Betway Review
- More details
- Show less
- ComeOn Benefits
- Loads of markets
- 24/7 live chat support
- Strong live betting
- ComeOn Review
- More details
- Show less
- NorthStar Bets Benefits
- Excellent live betting interface
- Bundles of betting options
- Canadian-owned and operated
- NorthStar Bets Review
- More details
- Show less
- Coolbet Benefits
- Aims to provide the best odds
- Very fast withdrawal times
- Rich schedule for live betting
- Coolbet Review
- More details
- Show less
- Stake Benefits
- Extensive list of cryptocurrencies
- Strong live betting platform
- esports betting
- Stake Review
- More details
- Show less
- Novibet Benefits
- Mobile Apps & Live Streaming
- 24/7 Customer Support
- 30 + Sports
- More details
- Show less
- Betsafe Benefits
- Interac banking
- Live betting and streaming
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- Betsafe Review
- More details
- Show less
- bwin Benefits
- Established reputation
- Terrific online betting interface
- Excellent mobile apps
- bwin Review
- More details
- Show less
- 22Bet Benefits
- Wide selection of sports and markets
- Good betting odds across the site
- 24/7 professional customer service support
- 22Bet Review
- More details
- Show less
- Shangri La Live Benefits
- Big sportsbook welcome bonus
- Offers a lot of betting markets
- Live betting and cash out features
- Shangri La Live Review
- More details
- Show less
- Play Alberta Benefits
- Operated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
- $20 free bet on the first deposit of $10 or more
- Single-event sports betting, parlays, and live betting
- Play Alberta Review
- Population: 4.4 million
- Legal age for sports betting: 18
- Online sports betting: Yes
- Retail sportsbooks: No
- Sports betting revenue: $108 million
How we rate Alberta's sportsbooks
How to start betting in Alberta
Alberta sports betting now includes AGLC-regulated online and single-event wagers with the Play Alberta. Still, top offshore sportsbooks offer superior sports betting markets, bigger sign-up bonuses, and a better overall experience for Albertans.
Select a sportsbook
Alberta sports bettors need to do their due diligence when choosing a sportsbook. This means reading reviews, testing out customer service, and identifying the book that makes it easiest to deposit and withdraw funds. Of course, tracking down the best betting lines is a must as well when comparing sports betting options.
Register online
Albertans can choose to register with a local product, Play Alberta, or one of several reputable offshore sportsbooks. Expect to enter some personal information, confirm your identity, and claim any bonuses offered.
Claim a bonus
As mentioned, most sports betting sites offer enticing sign-up bonuses to convince bettors to try their platforms. Play Alberta offers a small deposit bonus, but this pales in comparison to some of the more established sportsbooks operating in the province. These websites provide larger second-chance bets, deposit matches, and no-deposit bonuses.
Deposit funds
Bettors can quickly add funds to a Play Alberta account with a credit or debit card. Offshore sportsbooks offer a much more comprehensive list of deposit methods such as Interac e-Transfers, bank transfers, ecoPayz, and more.
Choose your bet types
All of the popular bet types are available in Alberta. Users placing wagers with Play Alberta can expect to choose from a selection of bets that include the point spread, moneyline, Over/Unders (totals), and player props.
Start betting
Once you’ve identified the sportsbook that best meets your legal sports betting needs, it’ll be time to start betting. Remember, nothing is stopping you from line shopping and registering with multiple sportsbooks in Alberta. So take advantage of those sign-up bonuses and lock in the most favourable betting lines available.
For beginner bettors, our how to bet guides are a great place to start.
Withdraw funds
When looking to access your winnings, be sure to read the relevant terms and conditions. In all likelihood, Alberta sports bettors will have to wait up to five days to see their bankroll show up in their bank account. Choose the sportsbook that allows you to use your preferred withdrawal method to ensure easy access to funds.
Reading the odds
Decimal odds are the most commonly used way to display odds in Alberta. When odds are shown as decimals, bettors can quickly calculate their potential winnings by multiplying their wager by the odds given. For example, a bettor looking to place $50 on the Edmonton Oilers (1.50 odds) to beat the Vancouver Canucks (2.55) can conclude that this bet would result in a total win of $75 ($50 x 1.50) — and $25 in profit ($75 - the original $50 bet).
It’s easy to identify favourites and underdogs when using decimal odds. As favourites are more likely to win, they will be accompanied by a smaller number. In the above example, you can see that the Oilers (1.50) are favoured to beat the Canucks (2.55).
Play Alberta uses decimal odds as the default option to display odds in Alberta. Check out our odds converter to toggle between the three main types of betting odds — American, decimal, and fractional odds.
Is sports betting legal in Alberta?
Yes, it is legal to bet on sports in Alberta. Online single-game wagers can be submitted on PlayAlberta.ca. Alternatively, Albertans can place in-person bets at a participating retail location via Sport Select, a Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) product.
As of Nov. 1, 2021, single-game betting is available both online and in person.
Alberta sports betting updates
Sept. 1, 2021, marked the birth of both online and single-game betting in Alberta. Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, allowed the province to move forward with this expanded roster of gaming options in Wild Rose Country.
Here’s a look back at how Alberta came to offer single-event sports wagering:
June 11, 2024: Approximately 55% of Alberta's online gambling is with illegal operators, according to a recent report from Alberta's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
June 7, 2024: Play Alberta is bracing for an Oilers Stanley Cup, as Edmonton attempts to become the first Canadian NHL champion since 1993.
May 24, 2024: Alberta lawmakers pass Bill 16, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act. The bill could lead to Alberta sports betting and iGaming expansion.
May 15, 2024: Alberta is pushing to make an Ontario-like system for online sports betting and internet casino gaming.
March 1, 2024: Alberta's provincial budget pledges $1 million for online gambling review with hopes of future revenue growth.
Nov. 29, 2023: Alberta's potential overhaul to legal sports betting draws much interest from different parties, but progress remains slow.
Nov. 1, 2023: No mention of regulated Alberta sports betting in the throne speech delivered by Alberta Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani.
Dec. 9, 2022: Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) reinstates UFC betting in Alberta. With the ban lifted, customers can engage with UFC betting markets on Play Alberta.
Dec. 2, 2022: Following Ontario's lead, Alberta bans wagering on UFC events, citing integrity concerns. Wagers placed via Play Alberta have been voided, and the funds returned to the player.
Sept. 26, 2022: It appears Alberta regulators' plan to get retail sportsbooks running by the end of 2022 is falling behind schedule. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) has yet to announce which two private operators it will permit to run sports betting across the province.
March 4, 2022: Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid becomes BetMGM's newest brand ambassador.
Feb. 17, 2022: A number of major sportsbooks (including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel) show interest in the AGLC's request for proposals (RFP), which was submitted in December 2021. The agency extends the window for possible bidders by another two weeks.
Feb. 11, 2022: PointsBet Canada expresses interest in entering the Alberta sports betting market.
Jan. 10, 2022: AGLC introduces virtual sign-up for its Self-Exclusion program, allowing problem gamblers to voluntarily ban themselves from Play Alberta for six months, one year, two years, or three years.
Dec. 10, 2021: AGLC begins accepting applications from vendors interested in entering the Alberta sports betting market. The crown corporation is looking for two operators to offer legal sports betting in the province's casinos and work with Alberta's professional sports teams in 2022.
Dec. 9, 2021: AGLC is believed to be honing in on a limited-operator model. Provincial regulations could call for as few as two sports betting operators in Alberta.
Nov. 1, 2021: Sport Select begins offering single-game wagers and futures betting. Albertans can now confirm single-event picks at a WCLC authorized retailer.
Sep. 1, 2021: AGLC announces that sports betting is live on Play Alberta. Single-game wagers are available on the province’s first-ever regulated online sportsbook.
Aug. 12, 2021: The official launch date, Aug. 27, 2021, of single-game sports betting in Canada is announced. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, David Lametti, makes the announcement from Niagara Falls, ON.
Aug. 3, 2021: ALGC announces that single-game sports will be available “later in 2021” on Play Alberta.
June 29, 2021: Bill C-218 receives royal assent from Chief Justice of Canada, Richard Wagner. Single-game sports betting is legal in Canada.
June 22, 2021: Bill C-218 receives overwhelming approval from the Senate. To become law, C-218 needs royal assent.
Feb. 25, 2020: Bill C-218, a private member’s bill, is introduced. The proposed legislation aims to amend the Criminal Code and legalize single-game sports betting in Canada.
April 22, 2021: Bill C-218 glides through the House of Commons with all-party support.
Oct. 1, 2020: Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) unveils PlayAlberta.ca, the province’s first and only regulated gambling website.
Who can bet on sports in Alberta?
Legal online sports betting is for those who are 18+ and residents of Alberta. Wagers can be placed online with a mobile phone or computer or in person at any retailer that takes Sport Select bets.
Consider the following before placing your first bet in AB:
Legal age
Alberta's legal gambling age for sports betting is 18, though some offshore sportsbooks set the minimum age requirement at 19 years of age.
Mobile betting
Alberta sports bettors looking to bet on the go can confirm their picks from anywhere in the province with the best sports betting apps in Canada or on the Play Alberta website.
Unfortunately, Albertans don't have access to some of the biggest names in the industry, like FanDuel Ontario, DraftKings, BetRivers Ontario, and others.
Remote registration
Alberta residents can complete the sign-up process from anywhere in or outside of Alberta.
Within provincial borders
When betting with Play Alberta, users will be required to enable location services to confirm they are in the province. As each Canadian province has established its own sports betting regulations, AGLC is permitted to offer its online product only to those physically present in Alberta.
Notably, users can complete the registration process and make deposits from outside Alberta.
Retail sportsbooks
While many of Alberta’s casinos could house retail sportsbooks in the future, no such facilities exist at present. Bettors must submit all in-person sports wagers at a WCLC retailer in Alberta.
Taxable winnings
Albertans, like all other Canadians bettors, do not pay tax on gambling winnings.
Latest Alberta betting news
The pros and cons of AB sports betting
Alberta acted quickly by rolling out a new online product just five days after The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218) came into effect nationwide.
Unfortunately, the initial reviews of Play Alberta’s sports betting section are less than inspiring, meaning most Albertans will continue to take their business offshore.
Alberta sports betting
What else can you bet on in Alberta?
While Play Alberta covers most major sports, bettors will have to look elsewhere for a full library of coverage. Luckily, there's a wide range of alternatives for Albertans.
Awards ceremonies
Bettors looking to wager on the Oscars or Academy Awards on Play Alberta will be out of luck. Fortunately, this type of novelty bet is prevalent on most offshore sportsbooks.
Politics
Play Alberta does not offer betting lines for elections or any other political event. However, plenty of political betting sites operate in Alberta without issue.
esports
Esports betting sites can be accessed through top offshore sportsbooks operating in Alberta. Play Alberta has yet to include esports in its betting library.
What about Alberta university sports?
U Sports doesn’t generate the same sports betting interest as its NCAA counterpart. You’ll be hard-pressed to find consistent betting opportunities to wager on Golden Bears football or Dinos basketball.
Home team advantage: Alberta sports
Chippy and intense are just two adjectives used to describe the Battle of Alberta. The decades-long rivalry between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames is circled in red on the NHL calendar.
Other types of gambling
Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) regulates all forms of gambling (excluding pari-mutuel horse race betting) in Alberta. There are more than two dozen land-based casinos and gaming facilities in the province, while Play Alberta serves as AGLC’s online gambling platform.
Land-based casinos
AGLC oversees Alberta's brick-and-mortar online casino operations. There are nearly 30 land-based venues in the province, where gamblers can play slot titles as well as table games like three-card stud, roulette, blackjack, and five-play draw poker.
Poker
Poker rooms and online poker are legal in Alberta. With many casinos temporarily closing poker rooms due to COVID-19, players have deferred to offshore poker sites to get their poker fix. Play Alberta does not offer online poker.
Online casinos
Play Alberta is the only government-regulated online gambling website in the province. Meanwhile, other Alberta online casinos operate in the grey market and offer slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and live dealer gaming. There are numerous safe off-shore real money online casinos available in Alberta, including Slots Magic, AmunRa, and North Casino.
Horse racing
The Calgary Stampede is not the only event within the province to feature horses. Century Mile Racetrack and Casino (Edmonton) and Century Downs (Calgary) are two of the most popular venues for horse racing in Alberta. Both tracks offer live horse racing and are attached to casinos. The following venues also play host to various horse racing events in Alberta: Evergreen Park (Grande Prairie), Millarville Racing (Millarville), Rocky Mountain Turf Club (Lethbridge).
WCLC and its Sport Select product offer in-person betting on horse racing in Alberta. Additionally, horse racing bets in Alberta can be placed through any of the sportsbooks mentioned earlier in the guide.
Daily fantasy sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are legal in AB. Alberta bettors have competed in DFS contests for years on well-known platforms DraftKings and FanDuel.
Responsible gaming in Alberta
AGLC provides policies, regulations, program tools, and resources that educate and inform Albertans on responsible gambling. The agency operates ‘GameSense,’ an online portal designed to provide recommendations to bettors and resources for how to gamble responsibly.
Visit GameSenseProvincial betting guides
With more than 28 years of excellence within the sports betting industry, Covers continues to provide Canadians with independent sportsbook reviews. Whether you are looking for the best NFL sportsbook or the best site for live NHL betting, Covers has vetted the best places to bet online in Alberta. Canada is a big place, but we’ve gone local and assembled a list of the best online sports betting sites near you.
Sportsbooks to avoid in Alberta
See all blacklisted sportsbooks
The following online sportsbooks should be avoided due to their questionable tactics and failure to provide adequate services.
- Allegations of withdrawal issues
- No license information available on site
- Poor customer service
- Multiple reports of slow payments
- Allegations of non-payments
- Risk of account closure simply for winning bets
- Reports of confiscated winnings
- Slow customer support response times
Alberta sports betting FAQs
Yes, sports betting is legal in Alberta. Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) regulates all local sports betting in the province. Many excellent offshore websites operate legally in Alberta as well.
Alberta bettors can gamble on sports online or at a Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) retail outlet.
Single-game betting is now available via Play Alberta, a local online product. Sports bettors can place moneyline bets, point spread bets, Over/Unders (total), parlays, and more. All of these bets (and more) can be found on legal offshore websites operating in AB.
Like other Canadian markets, Alberta online sports betting is monopolized. The AGLC’s Play Alberta is the only online product serving local bettors. Luckily, it is perfectly legal for Albertans to register and bet with all of the best offshore sportsbooks.
Yes, online betting was introduced on Play Alberta on Sep. 1, 2021. As long as you’re physically located in AB, you can use this betting platform. Many offshore online sportsbooks are available in Alberta as well.
No. All physical bets must be placed with Sports Select at a WCLC retailer, such as a convenience store.
Sports bettors in Alberta must be 18 years of age or older.
Yes, bet365 is legal and among the top sportsbooks operating in Alberta.
No, but you must be physically present in Alberta to bet with Play Alberta. The online platform uses geofencing software to confirm that users haven’t wandered into another province before placing a wager.
No, occasional lottery winnings in Canada are considered a windfall. Income earned from sports gambling does not need to be declared on tax returns.
No, PlayNow is the provincial lottery-run sports betting platform in British Columbia and Manitoba. Play Alberta is the provincial offering in Alberta.
Pages related to this topic
Jeff Watters is senior content editor for Covers, locked in on North American sports betting and iGaming expansion and leading a talented team of expert analysts and sportsbook reviewers. Jeff’s career in gambling and e-learning has spanned more than a decade, allowing him to “think like a user” when assessing the latest sportsbook features and providing local coverage of regulated sports betting markets. Jeff is passionate about providing comprehensive, transparent, and unbiased betting analysis and giving Covers readers the confidence they need to come to their own conclusions when deciding how and where to bet on sports.