Alberta sports betting is now online after the province became the latest to go live with single-game sports betting through the province’s own PlayAlberta.ca website.

Once the Canadian government approved the Safe And Regulated Sports Betting Act that permitted single-game sports betting in Canada, Alberta Gambling, Liquor and Cannabis announced that they were developing an online sports betting element that would be launched before the end of 2021.

That plan came to fruition this month.

“AGLC is continuously looking for ways to improve Play Alberta and adding sports betting to the website will give consumers expanded gambling entertainment options,” said Kandice Machado, Acting President & Chief Executive Officer, AGLC. “Play Alberta Sports Betting will take the existing sports betting market that players are familiar with and introduce a modern option that presents Albertans with choice and convenience in a safe and regulated environment.”

Previously, Alberta only offered the province’s sports bettors parlay wagering, which was accessible solely through brick and mortar retail elements. The sports betting arm of the province’s gaming monopoly was lagging well behind the casino industry. Casino gambling went online in October of 2020 and a live dealer option was added to PlayAlberta.ca in March of 2021.

NFL & NHL Available Markets

PlayAlberta.ca’s sports betting platform offers moneyline betting, point spread, over/under and prop wagering on the CFL, MLB, NBA, and European soccer. There’s also NFL betting and NHL betting markets, as well as markets for NCAA sports, the KHL, basketball from Spain, Italy and the Philippines, baseball from Japan and South Korea, tennis, boxing, MMA, Formula One and golf.

For the first time ever, Alberta sports fans will be able to place legal and regulated single sports wagers on the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames of the NHL and Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks of the CFL.

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When new players sign up and enter the promo code “SPORTS20”, they are eligible for a $20 signup bonus. All players who make a deposit of $10 or more with the promo code will receive the $20 free bet on sports.

The free bet must be used in a single bet slip. However, the bet can be on a single, system or parlay. Winnings from the free bet bonus do not include the free bet amount. Unused free bets will expire after seven days. Other terms and conditions apply.

AGLC’s sports betting service leverages NPi’s industry-leading NeoSphere iLottery Technology and the award-winning Advanced Betting Platform and trading services offered by Sporting Solutions. With offices across the globe - including Edmonton, Alberta - Sporting Solutions is a leading B2B sports betting provider that serves many of the world’s largest betting operators. Sporting Solutions will maintain odds and lines on Play Alberta and have a satellite office in Edmonton.

In addition to sports betting, NPi has worked with AGLC to launch online lotto games, slots, instants, and virtual and live dealer table games - all of which provide income to the General Revenue Fund within Alberta’s regulated gaming environment.

Play Alberta is accessible to Albertans over the age of 18 and physically located within the province’s border through browsers on desktop, smartphones and tablets.

What Next In Canada?

Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec all launched single sports betting platforms on Aug. 27, the first day the new law went into effect. Canada’s four Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland – followed suit under their combined Atlantic Lottery Corporation umbrella within the first week.

Now Alberta has joined them this month, leaving just Saskatchewan and Manitoba without a single sports betting offering.

All of the provinces are only providing sports betting through their provincial lottery corporations. There are no privately-run sportsbooks operational in the Canadian licensed and regulated market.

While no official word has been given, Alberta’s government has dropped hints that it may open up the legal and regulated sports betting markets to private sportsbooks and betting apps.

So far, only Ontario has guaranteed that it will be enabling privately-owned sportsbooks to set up shop in the province. Ontario even established a new government agency, iGaming Ontario, to oversee this process.

“We are determined to work with industry, responsible gaming advocates and regulatory partners to ensure Ontario is a world leader in building a safe online gaming environment that meets consumer expectations,” Ontario Attorney-General Doug Downey said.