The Legality of iGaming in the Wild Rose Country
Canada has always been in the grey zone when it comes to gambling regulations, despite being home to a wide pool of people who enjoy playing real money games and placing bets in person and online. The modern era of gambling in the country has largely been regulated in line with the Canadian Criminal Code, which enables different provinces to create their own regulations as they see fit.
In recent years, much-publicized amendments to the Criminal Code and other federal legislation have led to individual provinces taking giant steps toward regulating various forms of gambling in their territories. While much public attention has been paid to Ontario’s recent establishment of a regulated online gambling market, the province of Alberta may have gone under the radar. But what exactly are the gambling regulations in Alberta, and which types of online gaming can players based in the Wild Rose Country safely and legally enjoy?
The Status of Legal Online Gambling Sites in the Province of Alberta
First launched in 2020, Play Alberta is the only legally recognized online gambling website accessible to players based in the Canadian province of Alberta. It was created by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) to provide safe access to online gambling services.
Unlike many other illegal or unregulated sites that may be unsafe to play with for Canadian gamers, Play Alberta falls firmly within the province’s regulatory framework as outlined by the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act and Canada’s recently amended Criminal Code. According to the terms of AGLC regulation, any revenue generated via the Play Alberta online gambling platform is channeled back into the General Revenue Fund as controlled by the Government of Alberta.
This means that online gambling revenue is used productively at a domestic level rather than going into the pockets of potentially unscrupulous operators either at home or offshore. This is good news for Albertan residents because the General Revenue Fund is an essential component of funding for essential services in the province.
Accepted Online Casino Platforms & Legal Forms of Gambling in Alberta
Like much of Canada, gambling regulations in the province of Alberta generally follow the charitable gaming model, which enables state-run operators to provide legal gambling options, considering that a percentage of revenue is channeled back into charitable causes as relevant to the local population.
Things get a little more interesting when we consider the fact that offshore gambling platforms that are not run by the state are also allowed to do business, as long as they do not have a physical location in the province and are thus not subject to local regulations. While this may seem confusing, it means that many of the best online casino sites can be legally enjoyed as long as their offshore operators do not physically set up shop or establish headquarters in the province or Canada.
As a result, there is a wide array of online casinos in Alberta that do not fall under AGLC regulations. While it’s usually best to stick with Play Alberta if you want to stay safe and reap the maximum benefits for yourself and your community, plenty of other online casino options retain status in a kind of legal grey area. Other forms of gambling venues that are widely permitted in the land-based context (as regulated by the AGLC) include casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and sports betting services such as those provided by the state-supported operator Sport Select.
Other Legal Online Gambling Options Available to Play in Alberta
In line with local online gambling regulations, the Play Alberta site offers a wide range of safe and legal gambling options for both desktop and mobile. These include an extensive selection of online slot machines and casino games, with some of the most popular titles in 2023, including Lucky Vegas, Cash Eruption, Fortune Coin, blackjack, and roulette. Other options that can be safely enjoyed at the AGLC-managed platform include various live dealer games, such as Lightning Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Texas Hold’ Em.
It’s also possible to place bets on a range of sports and big-name sports leagues, including boxing, soccer, the NHL, NBA, and MMA tournaments. Players based in Alberta may also enjoy a range of instant win games and lottery options at Play Alberta. iGaming is permitted for anyone over the age of 18 who lives in the province.
Legal Challenges Made Against Play Alberta and the AGLC
The majority of opposition to the Play Alberta online gambling site has come from indigenous communities such as the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and the Tsuut’ina Nation, who have long held legal precedent over various forms of gaming in the province following the First Nations Gaming Act, which was put into action back in 1995.
Earlier this year, a challenge put forward by operators, including Tsuu T’ina Gaming, regarding the legality of Play Alberta was dismissed in court by Justice Robert Armstrong, who found that the AGLC’s decision to create the site was indeed within its legal rights. This is because, according to the AGLC Act and the Criminal Code, provincial governments such as that in Alberta are legally permitted to operate and authorize their own ‘lottery schemes.’
Stay Safe when Gambling in Alberta
After years of debate and wrangling, legal gambling in Alberta has finally branched out into the online market. If you’re in need of legal solutions and support related to the legitimacy of any given online gambling site, don’t hesitate to check up with the AGLC to ensure you don’t fall foul of the law.
Always stay safe when gambling online, especially if you go with an unfamiliar or unknown gaming platform. Never play with illegal sites in Canada. If in doubt, stick with Play Alberta’s generous and diverse output of online content to stay safe and ensure that you give something back to the province!
