Sports Betting Alberta
TORONTO—Bill C-290, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, which will allow wagering on the outcome of a single sporting event, has certainly attracted a lot of attention recently. The bill was passed unanimously by the House of Commons at third reading after hearings before the House Justice Committee, and has passed first and second reading in the Senate, and earlier this month was passed by the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee after extensive hearings, and reported back to the Senate for third reading debate.
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The federal minister of Justice has received letters from five provincial governments requesting the amendment, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The provinces of Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick have also indicated support.
Alberta’s sports betting is run by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. Like most provincial lottery governing bodies, they run a sports betting service. The Alberta sports betting service is called Sport. The information contained on or generated by this page is not official and may not accurately reflect the game, game numbers, odds or payouts. In the event of any discrepancy between this information.
Sports Betting Alberta Live
The Senate committee sought the views of experts from the regulatory, legal, law enforcement, academia, responsible and problem gambling fields, the International Olympic Committee, and from representatives of North American sports leagues.
The experts included a past chair of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as leading practitioners in gaming law, current and former senior officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, a professor of psychiatry from McGill University, and the chief executive officers of the Responsible Gambling Council and the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre.
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To a person, all the experts supported the legalization of single event sports betting and passage of Bill C-290—from the aspects of consumer protection, social policy, problem gambling treatment, crime prevention, law enforcement and the ability to detect attempts to fix the outcome of sports events.
Their testimony made the following points: Single-event sports betting in Canada is a huge business; estimated to be in excess of $10-billion annually (and as much as $40-billion) and conducted illegally through bookies by organized crime; and $4-billion through offshore internet sites that are not regulated by Canadian provincial regulators.
Betting on sports is widespread throughout all stratas of Canadian society, and viewed by those betting as either a victimless crime or no crime at all.
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Experience shows that if a legal alternative is made available, the overwhelming majority of bettors will patronize it, and that it significantly diminishes illegal activity and consequent revenues to organized crime.
Legalizing gaming makes it easier to build in responsible gambling controls.
Single-event betting is legal in Great Britain, much of Europe, Australia, Nevada, and regulated online gaming sites.
Being able to see who is betting how much and on what greatly enhances the ability to detect attempts of match fixing.
Moving billions of dollars from the underground and offshore economies to the legal domestic economy will provide additional resources to support and sustain programs such as health care and education.
The IOC stated in its submission to the Senate Committee that, “The IOC has adopted a proactive approach by creating a Working Group on Irregular and Illegal Betting in Sport, comprised of representatives of the sports organizations, governments, betting operators, and international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, The European Union, the Council of Europe and Interpol, in order to define a common approach and position on the matter.”
Among the working groups approved recommendations are: “…to establish an information exchange between existing national sports betting regulatory authorities…the creation of a common monitoring or information exchange system among the various sports betting operators; and the sharing of information with national regulators, international organizations (such as Interpol) and betting operators…and encourage states that have not yet done so to pass legislation that allows for irregular and illegal sports betting to be combated effectively.”
In contrast, the sports leagues insisted that legalizing sports betting would lead to attempts to fix the outcomes of games, which could be true if no sports betting was currently taking place—but we all know that isn’t the case.
They have a point in saying that criminal elements have in the past attempted and continue to attempt to fix the outcome of games. What they seemingly fail to either understand, or more likely, concede, is that bringing the betting above ground, as has been done in Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Nevada, and regulated-online gaming sites, brings to light unusual and questionable betting patterns, or even single bets, that can be and are investigated. This is exactly how the reported match-fixing over the last few years has been detected.
The professional leagues offered no alternatives or solutions and failed to admit the volume of wagering already occurring illegally on their games.
Doesn’t it make sense to offer a legal, regulated environment with proper consumer protection measures? The alternative is to continue to allow organized crime and offshore online operators take billions of dollars out of the Canadian economy.
Bill Rutsey is president & CEO, Canadian Gaming Association.
The Hill Times
Bill Rutsey
CEO, Canadian Gaming Association
131 Bloor St. W., Suite 503
Tor., ON M5S 1P7
phone – 416.304.6860
mobile – 416.809.6999
With a population of approximately 4.3 million, Alberta is the fourth most populated province in Canada. Since 2013, when it was last modified, all gambling activities in Alberta happen in compliance with the Gaming and Liquor Act. Calgary and Edmonton are the two major cities in the province, with more than 1 million inhabitants each. They are home to two famous NHL teams, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Being the most popular sport in Canada, ice hockey attracted millions of its fans to sports betting. Today, Canadians, and Albertans, regularly bet on all major sports and sporting events. If you want to know more about the legal framework of sports betting in Alberta, what are the most common betting markets in this province, and how it all works, this article is for you. So take a look!
Sports Betting Sites for Alberta
| # | Sportsbook | Bonus | Play |
| 1 | 888Sport | Sign Up Bonus100% up toC$200 + $10 Casino Bonus | |
| 2 | Betzest | No Deposit Bonus$/€ 5 | |
| 3 | Bet365 Casino | ||
| 4 | Bodog | Sign Up Bonus150% up toC$ 900 | |
| 5 | 10Bet Casino | Sign Up Bonus100% up toC$ 150 + 25 Spins |
Legal Framework of Betting in Alberta — Is Sports Betting Legal?
According to the current laws, all forms of gambling, including sports betting, casinos, and lotteries, are legal in Alberta. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis agency regulates and monitors all gaming activities in this province. It issues licenses, oversees the operators, and guarantees that all participants follow the regulations at all times and under all circumstances.
Ever since it was established in 1974, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) is responsible for all lottery, bingo, and sports betting in the fourth largest Canadian province. It is primarily focused on the popular North American sports, but it also covers golf and soccer. Wagering is available to all people who are at least 18 years old.
What bothers sports betting fans in this province the most, is that all wagers are limited to CA$100 per ticket. Also, the whole wagering process is very bureaucratized, and once the odds are set on daily game cards, they will remain the same. If you’re into proline bets, you’ll have to include at least three selections on all your tickets. In other words, the rules will force you to play a parlay.
As the rules set by operators slowly become outdated, many bettors decide to switch to online betting platforms. International betting sites cover all popular sports and don’t impose any limitations. Their bonuses and promotions are usually very generous and attract new players in large numbers.
Alberta Sports Betting Statistics
Landbased
The following are statistics for landbased sports betting that took place in Alberta from 2003 to 2020 (Note: current data for 2020 are estimates).
Online Sports Betting Alberta
| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horeserace | $35.7m | $35.7m | $37.2m | $33.3m | $42.4m | $43.0m | $37.4m | $36.2m | $37.4m | $36.1m |
| Sports | $20.4m | $19.1m | $15.8m | $20.2m | $21.1m | $21.1m | $22.9m | $23.7m | $25.3m | $28.0m |
| Total Betting | $56.1m | $54.7m | $53.0m | $53.5m | $63.5m | $64.1m | $60.3m | $59.9m | $62.7m | $64.1m |
| Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horeserace | $33.9m | $32.3m | $26.7m | $25.2m | $20.5m | $16.5m | $13.7m | $8.3m |
| Sports | $28.8m | $33.5m | $35.8m | $32.5m | $27.8m | $26.0m | $28.2m | $28.5m |
| Total Betting | $62.7m | $65.8m | $62.5m | $57.7m | $48.3m | $42.5m | $42.0m | $36.8m |
Contrary to betting online, landbased betting has decreased recently with 2020 showing the lowest activity of all time (most likely due to covid-19).
Interactive Gaming (Betting Online)
Compared to landbased sports betting, betting online has grown tremendously since 2003.
| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Betting Online | $12.3m | $14.4m | $16.5m | $18.1m | $20.7m | $20.7m | $23.3m | $25.3m | $32.6m | $36.3m |
| Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Betting Online | $43.8m | $50.4m | $56.0m | $59.3m | $63.9m | $68.5m | $71.4m | $70.1m |
How Does Sports Betting Work in Alberta?
Even though the sports lottery kiosks are spread all over Alberta and available at almost every supermarket, gas station, and retail shop, the number of betting options Albertans can choose from is somewhat limited. Let’s take a look at the most wanted betting products in the province:
- Proline — This is by far the most wanted betting product in Alberta. You have to combine at least three selections on your proline, while the maximum number is six. These two rules make it look like a regular parlay bet. To win, you have to successfully predict the outcome of every selection on your ticket. Similarly to parlay betting, all odds are multiplied together. Should you win, your stake will be multiplied by the overall odds number, and the outcome of that multiplication will be your prize.
- Point Spread — Another very popular betting option among Albertans are point spreads. The bookmaker determines it, and players try to predict if the result is going to be above, or under the spread. You have to put at least two games on your ticket, while the maximum number is 12. Of course, the more games you put on the ticket, the higher your multiplier will be.
- Pools — Those who prefer big risky bets with potentially huge profits, often opt for pools. All you have to do is to guess the winner. You don’t care about the odds and point spreads. Your ticket is your bet, and the more tickets they sell, the higher the pot. It’s something like the progressive jackpot games offered in casinos.
- Props — This type is also known as proposition betting. It doesn’t have much to do with the outcome of the game you’re betting on, but rather with the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain events during the game. For example, bettors often try to predict which player is going to score the first point.
Are Offshore Betting Sites Illegal in Alberta?
As we already mentioned, the popularity of international offshore sports betting sites in Alberta is going through the roof these days. And, while most of the Canadian bettors enjoy the lucrative promotions and bonuses they offer, some still wonder if they’re legal.
The truth is, they are in the so-called grey zone. There aren’t any laws that prohibit Albertans, or Canadians, to gamble in these sports betting platforms, as long as they are at least 18 years old. At the same time, these offshore sports betting sites are not subject to local legislation, and their licenses are issued overseas. Furthermore, local lawmakers don’t seem to care about introducing any additional regulations.
Aside from the bonuses that they’re quickly becoming famous for, offshore sports betting sites stand out from the crowd in many other ways. They implement some of the latest encryption technologies and safety algorithms, which guarantee the safety of every player’s private and financial data. And, they collaborate with well-established payment providers and pay special attention to quick and safe money processing.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Alberta
If the current trend continues, we expect more and more bettors to notice the potential of offshore sports betting sites, and try their luck on some of the famous platforms.