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Amid all the speculation about when Alberta’s regulated iGaming market will finally launch, there’s an equally important question: what will—and won’t—be available on betting sites when it does.
While Alberta is largely expected to follow the lead of Canada’s first open online gambling jurisdiction, Ontario, on several fronts, key distinctions have already emerged.
For one, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission recently informed prospective operators that wagers on political events will be prohibited.
With the province’s betting boundaries taking shape, here’s what players in Alberta can expect on their wagering menus at launch.
Related: Alberta Set to Launch Online Casinos & Sportsbooks on July 13
What Online Casinos Will Offer
Options for a legal online casino in Alberta beyond the government-regulated PlayAlberta will soon boom.
That said, the crown corporation’s offering provides a basic blueprint for what to expect from incoming private online casino brands.
There, players will find slots, live dealer and table games (e.g., blackjack, roulette, baccarat) from leading providers like IGT, Light and Wonder, Red Tiger and many more.
When third-party operators, such as Caesars, BetRivers and BetMGM arrive, selection among Alberta’s online casino games will expand significantly. This includes greater variation among traditional and speciality games, as well as an overall increase in available titles.
The game-type forecast includes:
- Slots (e.g., classic, megaways, progressive jackpots)
- Table games (e.g., blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker variants, video poker)
- Live dealer (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, live poker, game shows)
- Specialty (e.g., keno, bingo, scratchcards, arcade-style, crash games)
The total offering between individual casino sites will vary, but the baseline will be consistent.
What Online Sportsbooks Will Offer
Alberta sports bettors also stand to benefit from the impending wave of online sportsbooks destined for Wild Rose Country.
Through PlayAlberta, punters in the province have access to a deep selection of professional sports markets. While expansive in its own right, the overall scope of third-party sportsbooks (e.g., Caesars, BetMGM) spans much wider.
In addition to robust markets for all the major leagues — from the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA to the NCAA, CFL, Premier League and more — handicappers will also gain access to a wealth of wagering tools, features and promos.
Between diverse micro-markets (e.g., next touchdown, next goal), live game streaming and expanded cash-out options, there is plenty for sports bettors in Alberta to look forward to upon launch.
Some of the bet types expected at Alberta online sportsbooks are:
- Core markets (moneyline, point spreads, totals)
- Combination wagers (parlays, same-game parlays, teasers)
- Prop bets (player, team, game)
- Futures (championship winners, season win totals, awards, division/conference champions)
- Live/in-play markets (moneyline, spread, totals, next-score, next-event, quarter/period outcomes)
What Alberta Betting Sites Won’t Offer
The AGLC already declared wagers on political events off-limits. This means no betting on federal election outcomes, provincial leadership races, by-elections, referendum results, or cabinet appointments.
The ban represents a notable addition to Alberta online casino rules, as political wagers are permitted in Ontario.
That’s about where the discrepancies end, for now, at least. Betting markets and legislation are continually evolving, so reconfiguration is always a possibility.
At this point, though, Alberta has already outlined several additional prohibited markets, in accordance with the AGLC’s Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming. The list covers markets that involve:
- Human suffering
- Non-consensual violence
- Animal cruelty
In that same vein, financial markets and bets on minor league sports in Canada, including the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), remain forbidden.
Alberta iGaming Market Projects to Be Robust
Even with the absence of political and financial wagering on regulated sites, Alberta’s soon-to-be live online wagering market figures to be extensive.
In its totality, players – both new and migrating from the grey market – will have a plethora of legal casino and sports betting options to choose from.
Sites like Caesars and BetRivers have already opened for pre-registration, lending early optimism as to the untapped potential that awaits in Alberta.
With several big-name brands expected to follow suit, the next frontier in Canadian iGaming is developing in real time.
