Now that single-game sports betting is legal in Alberta, betting on tonight’s action has never been safer or easier. The province offers regulated sports betting in person through the Western Canada Lottery Corporation’s Sport Select product, and online via the PlayAlberta.ca website. Albertans can also choose from a wide variety of legal sports betting sites that cater to different Canadian bettors.
So -- how do you know which Alberta sports betting sites are the best for you? We've put together a list of our best online sportsbooks, ranking everything from betting apps and user experience to bet boosts, promotions, bonuses, and payout speeds. Our online sportsbook reviews also include analysis from betting experts who explain each betting site’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine the betting site that is the best fit for you.
Top Alberta Betting Sites 2024
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Online Sports Betting Alberta
How We Rank Alberta Sportsbooks
No stone goes unturned in our rankings of the top Alberta sports betting sites, ensuring you find the best — and safest — sportsbook for you.
Our three-layered approach begins with each sportsbook’s nuts and bolts, including critical information about availability in your region, payout options, ratings from mobile app users, and more. We also analyze and rank each sportsbook in six different categories: Bonus Availability, Sports Odds Variety, User Experience, Safety & Security, Regional Availability, and Payout Speed.
Next, an experienced betting expert fact-checks our review to ensure the rankings are based on the most recent and accurate information. Finally, the review is passed onto our publishers, who give the green light to go live.
This thorough quality assurance process is complemented by unique features that help you envision your betting experience before you even sign up. Each review features a bulleted “strengths and weaknesses” category, a section about apps and features, an area that covers customer safety, and a chart that compares that sportsbook to its competitors. That attention to detail is why Odds Shark is considered a premier voice in the sports betting industry, having served as a trusted and reliable source for three decades.
Sports Betting Alberta Quick Facts
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Is Sports Betting Legal in Alberta?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Alberta, and it has been for a while. Residents of Wild Rose Country have been able to bet legally on sports since the late 1980s when the Western Canada Lottery Corporation introduced parlay betting through Sport Select. Recently, legal sports betting in Alberta got even better with the arrival of online wagering through PlayAlberta.ca, which began offering single-game betting two months later. Sport Select now also offers single-game and futures betting options.
Regulated online sports betting in Alberta is available through PlayAlberta.ca, the province’s first and only regulated gambling website. However, many Albertans are also interested in the wide variety of legal offshore sportsbooks that cater to Canadians — many of which offer generous bonuses, better odds, and more betting options than the government product.
Major moments in sports betting regulation in Alberta
1974
The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) is founded to provide lottery and gaming-related activities for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
1989
Sports betting arrives in Alberta through Sport Select, a parlay betting game provided by the WCLC. Sport Select tickets are sold through licensed WCLC retailers, allowing bettors to wager up to $100 on moneylines, totals and point spreads — but typically with a minimum of three outcomes parlayed together.
2020
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) launched PlayAlberta.ca, the province’s first and only regulated gambling website.
2021
Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, is passed on June 29, making it possible for provinces to offer single-game sports betting. Two months later, the ALGC added single-game sports wagering to PlayAlberta.ca. By November, Sport Select had begun offering single-game wagering and futures betting through retailers authorized by the WCLC.
Alberta Sports Betting Tips
There are plenty of opportunities for legal sports betting in Alberta, including four professional teams that call the province home, national favorites in basketball and baseball, minor league squads throughout Alberta, or pro clubs in nearby states. But while it’s true that betting on the action can make the games even more exciting, it’s critical to gamble responsibly and keep several things in mind.
The most important Alberta sports betting tip is to understand that there are no “locks” in sports, especially in professional leagues that feature some of the best players in the world. Make sure you never get carried away by placing a bet you can’t afford to lose. Instead, identify a total amount of money that you are willing to risk through sports betting (known as a sports betting bankroll) and then wager a small percentage of that amount on every bet you place. That way, a bad bounce or injury won’t be enough to wipe out your entire balance and prevent you from being able to bet again tomorrow.
Other key sports betting tips include always shopping for the best possible odds (and have accounts at various sportsbooks so that you can place wagers at those best odds), keeping up to date on injuries, tracking line movement leading up to the game, and using the best Alberta sports betting sites.
Now that you’ve got a game plan in place, you’ll be better prepared to take on the bookies. The National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers are the hottest betting tickets in the province, especially when they play each other in the Battle Of Alberta. But don’t sleep on the rivalry between the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks, two of the Canadian Football League’s most successful franchises who have combined to win 22 Grey Cup titles.
Other popular opportunities for sports betting in Alberta involve backing the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors and Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays; various National Football League squads, particularly the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings; and five Western Hockey League teams that are dotted throughout the province.
Alberta Lotteries and Casinos
Alberta features nearly 30 brick-and-mortar casinos, the majority of which operate under the supervision of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) provincial Crown commercial enterprise and agency. All revenue that the AGLC generates through gaming and liquor programs go directly back to Alberta communities, while profits of the five Host First Nations casinos operating on reserve lands in Alberta go towards those Host First Nations communities.
Online gambling services are provided by PlayAlberta.ca, the lone regulated betting website in the province. PlayAlberta.ca, which is overseen by the AGLC, features lottery and online casino offerings in addition to the sportsbook.
How to Sign Up at an Alberta Sportsbook
Choose the best sportsbook for you: PlayAlberta.ca is the only provincially-regulated betting site in Alberta, but other online sportsbooks provide more betting options, not to mention generous signup bonuses. Read our sportsbook reviews to determine which betting site is the best choice for you.
Sign up: Signing up for a sportsbook requires providing personal information that confirms your location and protects your identity.
Pick your bonus: PlayAlberta and other legal betting sites often offer welcome bonuses (or signup bonuses) to attract new customers. These Alberta sports betting promos can vary throughout the year, so make sure you keep checking our reviews to capitalize on the best time to sign up. It’s also wise to sign up at multiple betting sites in order to cash in on as many bonuses as you can.
Make your deposit: The arrival of legalized sports betting in Canada has made it much easier to fund your sportsbook account. In fact, you may be able to send money via Interac e-transfer! Consult our sportsbook reviews for a detailed list of banking options available at each betting site.
Place your bet: Now that you’ve got money in your sportsbook account, you’re ready to get in the action! Check out the many different ways to bet on tonight’s game, ensure you’re getting the best possible odds, and don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.
Withdraw your winnings: It’s much easier to win your bet when you can wager on one game at a time. If you picked a winner on your first try, you’ll be able to withdraw your winnings just as easily as you made your deposit. (Just make sure that if you got a signup bonus, you’ve met any rollover requirements associated with the promotion before requesting your first withdrawal.)
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