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Photo: Diamond Tooth Gerties, Dawson City — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Important Facts About Gambling Online in Alberta
- It is legal to gamble and play online and in the best land-based casinos in Alberta once you are 18;
- Gambling is regulated by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC);
- For the moment, it is completely legal to play at the best offshore online casinos from Alberta;
- Casino winnings in the province and across Canada are tax-free unless you turn it into a profession.
Legal Gambling in Alberta
The best legal Alberta casinos online can be found on this page. However, did you know that Alberta is home to some of the oldest and best land-based casinos to play at in Canada? The province has a rich history of gambling that dates as far back and the 1920s when church bingo and horse racing were prominent. Over the next couple of decades, lotteries, sweepstakes, and slot machines began to appear throughout Alberta and casino exhibitions were included at the best summer fairs.
It wasn't until the 1980s that permanent charitable casinos were founded for residents to play at. This included the Cash Casino in Calgary in 1980 and Casino ABS in Edmonton in 1981. There were 11 casinos established in the province by 1995. Most of these have transformed over the years to become the best luxury establishments we know today. Edmonton and Calgary now have several casinos each, including a number of First Nations-operated casinos, offering slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker.
Casino site brands garnered attention around 2000 and have grown in popularity ever since. The number of online casinos accepting Canadian players has soared and for those who can't make it to a land-based establishment, these digital Alberta casinos are wonderfully convenient and they all meet the best standards for playing in a legal online casino.
Best Online Casinos for AB Players
If you live in Alberta and want to discover the best legal online casinos to play at, we have you covered. On our site, we only feature the best Alberta online casinos and all the reviews you find here have been expertly created in a bid to ensure you find the casino that truly meets your needs. We look at a number of important elements, including the casino history and reputation, best bonus codes and promotions, game selection to play, software providers, banking options, withdrawal speeds, currencies, mobile compatibility, and much more. Take your time to look through our best reviews here at the site and bonus deals to find the best Alberta online casinos.
PlayAlberta - Official Provincial Site
PlayAlberta is the official casino online that has been established for the province. Launched in 2020, PlayAlberta Casino is the only provisionally licensed and regulated online casino for Alberta. Although focusing on casino games, the site can also be used by provincial residents who wish to also wager on the best lottery tickets and instant games. MasterCard and Visa are both accepted as the major credit cards, while customer support is available locally via telephone and web-based chat.
A new player can register via their mobile or desktop device and claim a $20 welcome bonus before sampling a wide-ranging library of gaming content that consists of video slots, table games, and live dealers. While the best software providers include IGT and evolution gaming, the most popular games that you can play would be Infinite Blackjack, Lightning, Roulette, Baccarat Squeeze, Ultimate Texas Hold'em Poker, Da Vinci Diamonds, Wolf Ridge, and Cleopatra.
PlayAlberta vs International Casinos Online
Play Alberta is an exciting new brand that residents of the province can trust, based on the local licensing and registration setup that has been implemented with the best standards. Already it's possible for residents to play the best games from leading software providers and even claim a competitive market on this to support their next gaming session. However, there are still advantages to playing with one of the international casino sites that are currently leading the global marketplace:
- Bonus offering: Play Alberta has been developed with the intention of encouraging responsible gaming habits. However, it could be suggested that the operator is a little conservative when it comes to delivering the best bonus promotions. For example, some of the best international sites are willing to deliver high-value bonus packages that can integrate free spins, no deposit funds, and VIP bonus rewards;
- Software range: With an international site, you would expect to have access to a wider range of the best software providers. As of this review, the Play Alberta site only held software from a handful of the best providers. Meanwhile, it would be quite easy to find the software from more than 50 providers at a more globalised casino site;
- Progressive jackpots: With Play Alberta, the site is yet to provide a selection of progressive jackpots. As such, a resident of the province needs to visit an international site if they want to find the best jackpots that can grow based on the contributions of multiple wagers.
Alberta's Best Casino Bonus Offers
With the right bonus offer, it is possible to increase the length of your gaming sessions and unlock opportunities to play an even wider range of games that you might not consider otherwise. To make the most of your next bonus, check out some of the key formats below:
- Welcome bonus: A simple offer that can be triggered with an initial deposit that will be matched with complimentary credit from the casino site. As one of the best examples, you could seek a 100% match bonus of up to $100, though the exact values will depend on the casino;
- No deposit: This time, you can receive a free bonus without being required to deposit. With these offers, the wagering requirements are often higher;
- Free spins: When claiming free spins, this can be done by depositing or not depositing - it all depends on the casino operator. However, what she will find is that free spins are provided solely for slot games;
- Bonus package: there can be offers that package together multiple bonuses from the above four months. Ideally, a package will be claimed over several deposits to ensure that the rewards keep on coming;
- Loyalty: Comp points can be generated via real-money we are touring for the purpose of unlocking promotions and other rewards.
Legal Betting in Other Canadian Provinces
There are provincially run online casinos in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. These have been in operation for a number of years and provide increased revenues for the provinces. PlayOLG is the provincially run Ontario online casino and it opened in January 2015. It is powered by SPIELO G2 (GTECH) software. Play OLG offers Ontarians a section of casino games including slots, video poker, table games, and lottery products.
The provincially-run Quebec casino site is called EspaceJeux and is owned by Loto-Quebec. It launched in December 2010 and offers the best casino games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, table games, poker, sports betting, lottery, and other fun games. The site uses SPIELO G2 (GTECH) software as the main provider as well as offering games from the best names like Microgaming, Endemol Games, IGT, and OpenBet. The site is mobile compatible and is available in French and English.
PlayNow is the provincially run BC online casino and is available to residents of both BC and Manitoba. Games available include the best slots, table games, blackjack, progressive jackpots, arcade games, and more. Users can also play with lottery tickets, keno, bingo games, live poker, and sports betting. Their main software provider on the site is SPIELO G2 (GTECH) although games from WMS were introduced in 2014.
Alberta Online Casinos - Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers
Is gambling legal in Alberta?
Yes - gambling is legal at PlayAlberta or any of the offshore brands that are accessible in the province.
What is the legal gambling age in Alberta?
To gamble in Alberta, you must be aged 18 or older.
Are Alberta online casinos regulated?
Yes - all of the casinos we recommend on our site and licensed and regulated and thoroughly vetted by our editors to ensure safety, security, and fair gaming for all Canadian players.
Do I have to pay taxes on my casino winnings?
The gambling laws don't require that you pay taxes on your casino wins unless you turn the hobby into a profession and your income comes from your winnings. In this case, you will be required to pay the appropriate taxes.
How do I know the casinos are safe to play at?
It's imperative that you choose the brands you play at carefully. There are rogue casinos out there. We recommend that you take a look at the Alberta online casinos reviewed on our site. We also advise readers to look at the certification and licensing a casino holds before opening a real money account.
How do I fund my Alberta online casino account?
All international casinos that accept players from Alberta will have a number of payment options to choose from. These include credit and debit cards which can be used to deposit and withdraw. The best legal casinos will also allow Canadians to use Instadebit, Interac, and iDebit.
Who regulates gaming in Alberta?
All real money games are regulated by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC). This body creates and enforces all policies and procedures for casing gaming, betting, bingo, and lotteries.
What are the benefits of playing at Alberta online casinos?
There are numerous benefits, including great signup bonus deals, regular player promotions, no deposit offers, free spins, huge progressive jackpots, and hundreds of the best new slot machines from top software providers. Bigger jackpots are a draw for many Canadian players as is the fact that games can be enjoyed 24/7 from the comfort of your home or on the go on your mobile or tablet device.
Can I play for free at Alberta Online casinos?
Yes, you can. The top legal casinos all offer a fun play option so you can test out the games before deciding to play for real money. You can also use a no deposit bonus to try out the leading new casinos and be in with the chance to win cash prizes. This is the top legal risk-free option that doesn't require you to fund your account and can include free spins on popular slots or else free time where you are given up to an hour to play as many casino games as you can and win as much as possible, or free chips/credits that you can use to play most of the best games. We have bonus offers listed on our site that includes free spins and special no deposit codes so make sure you take a look at these as well if you want to play free and win real money.
Do I need to install software from the casino?
No - in most cases. It's no more common to find instantly accessible gaming destinations that are compatible with everyday browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox. However, there can be rare instances in which a desktop user can install an online casino client to their Windows device. Also, there can be mobile casinos that are made accessible via native apps for iOS or Android.
What is KYC?
KYC is the acronym for 'Know Your Consumer', and covers the process in which an online casino site that the identity, age, location, and payment method of players. When required, a user can comply with KYC checks by submitting varying forms of ID, such as a passport or driver's licence before getting to play.