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Alberta Online Casino Laws

By: Russell Potvin

Alberta provincial flag

There are plenty of land-based casinos in Canada's fourth-most populous province, but for those who prefer the comfort of their own home, we recognize the demand for information on Alberta online casino choices. At present there are no provincial online casino sites, but there are still plenty of options available. Legal international online casinos accept players in Alberta and they specialize in catering to the province by providing players with Toll Free support numbers, accepting CAD, and their software is available in many languages. These international sites adhere to all the Alberta casino laws making them safe and secure to play at, as well as having years of experience and a solid reputation.

Even without a provincially run site, finding a legal online casino in Alberta isn't a problem. Below you will find our list of top online casinos for Albertans to choose from.

Top 3 Online Casinos in Alberta

Rank Name Rating Bonus % Bonus Accepts
Canadians?
Software Options
1 Oshi Casino Oshi Casino Yes Visit
2 Manhattan Slots Casino Manhattan Slots Casino Yes Visit
3 Gold Betting Casino Gold Betting Casino Yes Visit

Latest Updates: September 27, 2016: An amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada to legalize wagering on single sporting events was recently introduced and voted down by legislators.

April 6, 2016: A new millionaire has been made in Alberta in March 2016. Sylvia Bennett of Fort McMurray was playing the Diamond Millions progressive slot machine at the River Cree Resort and Casino when the big win came. A motion to support amending the Criminal Code of Canada was also issued in March 2016 and if this goes ahead it will become legal to allow betting on single sporting events.

Historical Alberta Casino Laws Explained

In 1967, the province's first charitable casino was opened at the Edmonton annual fair and, in 1980, the first provincial land based casino was opened in Calgary followed by a second one opened in Edmonton one year later. Today you can find casinos in small towns and the larger cities across the province. There are seven to choose from in Calgary alone. Edmonton has five including Palace Casino and there are other land based establishments in Lethbridge, Enoch and Grand Prairie. In 1996, a number of regulatory bodies were combined to create the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. As this name implies, they are responsible for regulating all gaming and alcohol-related activities in the province. Their website lists all the casinos and bingo halls that can be found throughout the province.

Today, there are around 24 different land based casinos, but unfortunately there are no government operated online gaming sites. With that said, there is no need to sit and wait for a provincially-operated Alberta online casino with all of the legal international sites that cater to Canadians and have stellar reputations within the industry.

In December 2014, Horse Racing Alberta, who are responsible for regulating horse racing in the province have announced that there will be new off-track betting on horse racing. After a long and drawn out process, the announcement was made and operations are now to be shared between Century Casinos and Northlands Park to ensure that all angles of the industry are covered and overseen in Alberta. Century Casinos will now be responsible for operating all Southern Alberta outlets including Calgary, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Lethbridge and the surrounding rural areas, while Northlands Park is responsible for operations in all areas North of Red Deer.

Best Legal Online Casino For Alberta - Know Your Options

If you live in this province, there is a wide variety of options available that are regulated by international gaming authorities. In fact, International online casinos offer a great deal more than the land-based options in Alberta, but it is important to know what to look for and this is where our in-depth reviews will come into play. Valuable information such as the VIP incentives, the quality of software, the promotions and bonuses that are being offered, the banking methods that are available and so much more. International sites that cater for Canadian players will allow you to play CAD, so you don't have to deal with the currency conversions that are imposed by some of the American brands. Not all sites are the same, but many share similar attributes, so it is important that you do your research first.

A good Alberta online casino will have all the games you want to play, including blackjack, table games, slots, keno, progressive jackpots, video poker and more. The progressive jackpots that are offered tend to be much larger than provincial sites because there are players from around the world contributing the pot. These are life changing amounts that can be yours with just one lucky spin of the reels. Mobile casino apps are also available at many of the top online casinos which allows you to play on any mobile device, including iPhones, iPads, Blackberry phones, Windows and Android tablets and cell phones. You can expect games from the top software providers in world such as Microgaming, Playtech, and NetEnt. If you prefer the 'live' experience, check out the live dealer games to play blackjack, roulette or baccarat against a live dealer. Essentially, you really do get the best of both worlds, real live games, a massive choice of slots, table games and video poker titles, and the best software available.

Another benefit to play online has to be the bonuses and promotions that are offered to players. Many of these sites offer over $1,000 CAD in free bonus money to new players who sign up for an account and make one or more deposits. There are also monthly deals and special offers that players can available of all the time too. VIP programs, cash back incentives, tournaments and more are all what AB players can expect to find. When it comes to AB casino slot odds vs international sites there is no comparison. The odds at online gambling sites are much higher and you really do have a much great chance of winning.

There are plenty of banking options to suit Alberta online gambling enthusiasts too and these include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers and more. All this is available for AB residents right now from the comfort of their home and best of all, it is legal. Take a look at our list of top legal Alberta online casino sites today and see what you have been missing out on.

Disclaimer

Our list of expert comparisions and our rating system means that you can find the establishment that is right for you. We only recommended trusted and secure sites and they are all tested and used by our staff. It should be noted, that all the information provided on this page is unofficial and should not be take as legal advice. As industry advocates, we do our best to gather and provide the most up to date resources for informational purposes only. For more information on Canadian gaming laws, please visit our Canadian legal online gambling section.