Best Alberta Online Casinos in 2024

Planning to play online casino games in Alberta? This is the right beginner’s guide for you. We will discuss the entire legal gambling landscape in this province and list the best Alberta online casinos to join this year. This guide also covers casino bonuses, gambling taxes, and land-based casinos in Alberta. Keep reading!

The gambling laws in Canada can be slightly confusing for beginners. The federal law allows each province to set its own gambling and betting rules. This means gambling could be legal, illegal, or unregulated in your area. Alberta is one of the provinces where gambling is regulated, albeit partially. As an Alberta resident, the law allows you to play on online casino sites that offer slots, lottery, jackpots, and tabletop games. But when did it all start?

Before the Europeans came and introduced betting and gambling, First Nation people gambled on dice games and sticks. Later, in 1892, the Criminal Code of Canada was introduced to ban gambling-related activities. However, this law was amended in 1969 to allow individual provinces to regulate their own forms of gambling. Read on to get the full details about the historical background of Alberta’s gambling laws.

The Criminal Code of Canada opened the floodgates for casinos to launch throughout the country by defining all legal and illegal gambling activities.

Alberta uses a “charitable gaming model” to regulate gambling. With this approach, the government views gambling as a national industry that the province should manage and operate. As a result, a percentage of gambling proceeds goes back to the local community via charitable organizations. Some of these monies help residents struggling with gambling and betting addiction. 

Note that an individual cannot run a gambling or betting venue/website in the Wild Rose Country. Anyone found guilty of this offence risks a lengthy prison sentence. However, this requirement leaves online gambling in a grey area in Canada. You won’t be arrested or prosecuted for playing at an international casino site. Just ensure the casino is safe and reliable before signing up.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission regulates gambling and betting in this province. This body ensures the full implementation of the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act, which was revised in 2022. It also runs PlayAlberta.ca, the only regulated gambling website in the province. You must be 18+ years old to register and play on this website.

The table below sums up the legal gambling sector in Alberta:

History of Gambling in Alberta

Here are the key events leading to the growth of gambling in Alberta as we know it today:

• 1969: Amendment to the Criminal Code to allow sweepstakes and lotteries.
• 1969: The law changes to allow provinces to license casinos and lotteries.
• 1970: The establishment of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.
• 1986: Alberta’s first charitable casino is opened in Calgary.
• 1992: Video lottery terminals launch in the province.
• 1993: Casino Lethbridge (called Casino ABS back then) opens in Lethbridge.
• 1990: The province introduces Teletheatre betting. At the same time, Palace Casino opens in Edmonton.
• 1996: The establishment of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). This body oversees all gaming activities in the province.
• 1996: Slot machines launch in charitable casinos across the province.
• 1997: Casino Calgary and Jackpot Casino open their services.
• 2004: Alberta updates all its 6,000 video lottery terminals with new machines.
• 2006: River Cree Resort and Casino opens its doors in Enoch Reserve.
• 2021: AGLC introduces PlayAlberta.ca to offer regulated gambling services.
• 2024: Alberta announces plans to create an open and regulated sports betting industry. 

Free Playing in Alberta

You can play games for free or cash at nearly all real money casinos in Alberta. Free demo games use virtual coins that you cannot redeem as cash or gifts. But there are many advantages of playing demo games, as you’ll see in the table below:

There are many casino site options in Alberta. However, this comes with the challenge of finding the ideal gaming platform. But worry not because we’ll share tips on how we curate our list of top-rated casinos in the province. Below are some of the things that we look at when rating Alberta casinos:

• License and regulation: Licensing is an important area we pay close attention to. Before recommending any casino site on our list, we make sure that it holds a local license in Kahnawake or Ontario. Platforms without local licenses must be approved by either the Malta Gaming Authority, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, or the UK Gambling Commission
• Safety and security: We confirm if the casino guarantees 24/7 protection of our personal and financial information. Casinos with updated SSL encryption are the most secure platforms to join.
• Reputation: The reputation of the casino ranks highly on our checklist. For example, we don’t rank casinos with a history of not paying out winnings or responding to complaints.
• Bonuses and promotions: All our recommended casinos have exciting offers and friendly bonus policies. These bonuses target new and existing players. Some casinos also have rewarding VIP programs.
• Game Library: The quantity and quality of the game library is vital. Top online casinos in Alberta offer thousands of games from leading software providers. We also ensure that the library is dynamic with a mix of different game categories.
• Payments: We understand how vital a casino’s banking services are to players. For this reason, we only rank Alberta casinos with secure and easy-to-access banking methods. Payments must also be fast and free of any charges.
• Mobile play: Our recommended Alberta casinos provide gaming services via instant play or casino apps. Before ranking these casinos, we ensure the mobile gameplay is smooth and uninterrupted.
• Customer support: We rate and review casino sites with reliable and professional customer service. Our casinos in Alberta offer support via email, live chat, phone, and social media. The best websites provide 24/7 support.
• Terms and Conditions: Our review team carefully reads the T&Cs of each casino to point out any unfair clauses. Some rogue casinos can use their T&Cs to deny gamers their hard-earned winnings. 

Sites to Avoid in Alberta

Our review team has strict selection criteria which a casino site must meet. Unfortunately, some casinos fail our reliability tests. Such websites fall under the list of casino sites to avoid. 

Below are some of the characteristics of a blacklisted casino:

• Non-existent customer support.
• Unclear licensing information.
• No SSL encryption certificate.
• Unfair T&Cs.
• Bonuses with high wagering requirements.
• Games from unknown software developers.
• Payments via little-known banking methods.
• History of non-payment or unfair player treatment. 

So, what makes a good casino in Alberta? First and most importantly, look for evidence of licensing. PlayAlberta.ca is undoubtedly the most reliable option. It’s a website that’s committed to fairness and transparency. However, the game choices here are a little restrictive. Thankfully, there are hundreds of casinos with top-quality game libraries. You must ensure the website is licensed and approved before signing up.

The best casino sites also offer fast and reliable payment services. You don’t need to wait days or weeks for your payouts. Top-rated casinos often process deposits instantly, with withdrawals taking just a few hours. These casinos also let you transact using reliable options like credit cards, Interac, iDebit, and Bitcoin. A good casino doesn’t charge any fee on your deposits or withdrawals.

In short, there are many features to look for when choosing a reliable casino site in Alberta. However, we understand that you may find the selection process complicated and time-consuming. In that case, refer to our list of trusted casinos in Alberta. We have carefully selected casino sites with the best bonuses, fast payouts, reliable customer support, and other reassuring features.

Everyone is looking for free playing opportunities at Alberta casinos. Besides enjoying extended playtime, bonus play can result in a decent payout with a single wager. But before listing the most popular casino bonuses, we recommend choosing offers with the lowest wagering requirements. Anything below 30x is considered a favourable rate.

Here are the most common online casino bonuses:

• No deposit bonus: Finding a casino with this welcome bonus should be a high priority. As the name suggests, this bonus doesn’t require a minimum deposit to trigger. Simply sign up and complete other requirements to claim this bonus or free spins.
• Match deposit bonus: This is the most prevalent welcome bonus offer in Alberta and worldwide. After signing up, make a minimum deposit, and the operator will match it by a certain percentage. The rate is often 100% for first deposit offers.
• Free spins: These are simply bonus rounds for players to use on slot machines. Free spins can be standalone rewards or part of the match bonus package. Remember, free spin winnings are subject to rollover requirements.
• Reload bonus: Most Alberta casino sites entice returning players with free spins or match bonuses after making a minimum deposit. Reload bonuses can be part of the total welcome package or separate daily, weekly, or monthly offers.
• High roller bonus: This bonus is similar to a match deposit reward structure-wise. However, the match percentage and maximum bonus are usually higher than standard bonuses. You will also need a bigger deposit to claim this reward.
• Cashback: Casinos know that losses can be painful. So, to soften the blow of losing your money, these casinos can refund a specific percentage of your losses in bonus money. Wagering requirements and other bonus conditions apply!
• VIP programs: There’s nothing better than getting a reward for every dollar you spend at the casino. Some casinos can reward you with loyalty points after spending real money. Then, you can redeem the points as a bonus or cash. VIP players also enjoy unique treatments like fast payouts and higher transaction limits. 

No law restricts residents of Alberta from gambling on phones. This means Albertans can enjoy unlimited mobile gambling options, thanks to the province’s favourable laws. You can play any casino game remotely on smartphones and desktops. This includes progressive jackpots and live dealer games.

Playing on mobile web browsers is the most common way to access real money casinos. This makes accessing casino games on mainstream mobile OS like iOS, Android, or Windows quick and easy. These instant-play modes are identical to desktop versions. Gamers don’t need to download or install any software to play.

The best gambling sites in Alberta also have apps for Android and iOS systems. These apps provide the convenience of playing your favourite games with a mere screen tap. There are no visual and design differences between the instant-play versions and casino apps. However, the gaming options and other services are the same whether using the mobile site or casino app.

Canada is among the best places to play real money games and bet on sports. The Income Tax Act exempts all Canadians from paying taxes on their gambling winnings. You can enjoy tax-free winnings when playing at casino sites and land-based venues. The same applies to sports betting, horse racing, e-sports betting, and other betting activities. 

But remember that any dividends of winnings accrued from gambling are taxable. You must promptly declare these incomes on your T3, T5, and T5013 forms. According to the law, these earnings contribute to your overall investment income. Therefore, you can be taxed anything between 15% and 33%, depending on the income size. Failure to fill out the tax form could result in a heavy fine.

Playing games in Alberta online casinos can be a fun and rewarding venture. However, this is only possible if you play responsibly. Always have a specific gambling bankroll you can comfortably lose to the house. Also, set yourself a win/loss limit because you might find yourself chasing losses or being greedy. Play strictly for fun and when sober. 

Away from personal responsibilities, most regulated casinos have responsible gambling practices. These casinos offer safe gaming tools to help vulnerable players have more control over their gaming sessions. Some standard responsible gambling tools include:

• Session time limits: This tool lets you play for a specific duration to minimize losses.
• Deposit limits: Create specific daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits.
• Loss limits: Set specific daily, weekly, or monthly loss limits to avoid more losses.
• Self-exclusion: Request the casino site or regulator to self-exclude you from gambling services and messages for some time. This can be temporary or permanent exclusion.

AGLC is committed to maintaining a culture of moderate and responsible gambling. This commission ensures this by offering different safe gambling knowledge materials on its GameSense website. Here, you can understand winning odds, different gambling myths, and where to find responsible gambling tools and support. You can also ring the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline (1-866-332-2322) and speak to a professional about your struggles.

Alberta is home to 28 brick-and-mortar casinos, with the first privately-owned venue opening in 1980. Of this total, 24 provide Vegas-style services, whereas four are machine-based venues. Most of these casinos contribute their net gaming income to the General Revenue Fund to support local charitable initiatives. 

Below is a list of some of the top-rated land-based gambling venues in Alberta:

River Cree Resort and Casino

In October 2006, River Cree Resort and Casino opened its doors in Alberta. This $178 million venue became the first native-run casino in the province and was seen as a significant success for the Enoch First Nations. This venue offers a 62,000-square-foot casino area with 1,350 slot machines and 40 table games. You can also play on 12 poker tables and a smoke-friendly casino. 

Century Casino in Edmonton

Century Casino is another prestigious venue that started offering gambling services in 2006. It boasts 35,000 square feet of gambling space and a 26-room hotel. You can spin your luck to big wins on 750 slot machines, including 160+ penny machines. Century Casino also has 30+ table games and a 24-hour poker room with weekly tournaments. Sign up for the ‘Winner’s Zone’ card for exclusive bonuses and rewards. 

Rivers Casino (Formerly Boomtown Casino)

In 2001, Rivers Casino opened permanently in Fort McMurray. This was after the government introduced the First Nations Gaming Policy. It sits on a 23,500-square-foot casino space with tens of Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette tables. Rivers Casino also has more than 450 slot machines. Besides playing casino games, you can enjoy surprising daily specials and weekly live tournaments.

Cowboys Casino

Calgary’s Cowboys Casino provides a unique Texas-like gambling atmosphere. This casino is best for playing Poker games 24/7. The Poker Room has fast-paced shuffle machines, nine-handed tables, and HD TVs with several sports channels. You can also play other standard table games and 370+ slots. Even better, Cowboy Casino offers weekly slot tourneys, lunch specials, prize giveaways, and other treats.

Pure Casino Edmonton

Enjoy a club-like atmosphere in Alberta at Pure Casino Edmonton. This well-organized casino has a 72,000-square-foot playing floor with over 800 slot machines and 26+ live-action tables. You’ll also find a 12-table Poker room available to join around the clock. This venue has a great restaurant with hundreds of delicacies.