Key takeaways
AGLC reports 51 approved online casino and sports betting sites in Alberta after the 13 October deadline passed.
Reports give about 30 operators and 50 domains, so treat the counts as approximate and check with AGLC.
AGLC chief executive Dan Keene said the regulator will now block sites that are not approved.
Keene said firms that break the rules could face criminal prosecution.
Approved sites must ban bonus advertising, use central self-exclusion and give account safeguards.
If your site is not approved, withdraw your balance now and do not deposit again.
AGLC said 10 to 15 more domains could be approved before the end of the year.
The 13 October deadline for online casinos serving Alberta has passed. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) now reports 51 approved sites, according to a Deadspin report dated 19 October. AGLC chief executive Dan Keene said the regulator will now start to block sites that are not approved.
What changed on 13 October
The three-month transition period ended on 13 October. Keene said it gave grey-market sites time to follow the rules instead of facing an instant ban. Sites that did not join the market now face blocking. Keene said they could also face criminal prosecution.
The counts in the reports differ a little. Deadspin says AGLC had licensed about 30 operators. It says those operators run 50 licensed domains, and it also cites 51 approved sites. Treat all of these as approximate, and check with AGLC before you deposit.
51
Approved online casino and sports betting sites in Alberta, as reported on 19 October.
About 30
Operators that AGLC had licensed as of 13 October.
70%
Share of Alberta players Keene estimated were using unregulated offshore sites.
10 to 15
More domains AGLC said could be added before the end of the year.
Sites named as approved
The report lists the approved sites by name. It says early movers include BetMGM, Pure Casino, FanDuel and Bet365. Later ones include DraftKings, Penn Entertainment, Rush Street Interactive, Bally's Interactive and PointsBet Canada.
PlayAlberta.ca, run by AGLC, is also on the market. It was the only legal online site in the province before this change. Brands in the report's list include Betway, Stake, Spin Casino, Jackpot City and PlayOJO. Check with AGLC for the full and current set.
You can see how we rate casinos in our reviews hub. Those reviews do not tell you who is approved in Alberta. AGLC, the regulator, does that.
What approved sites must do
Keene said approved sites follow a strict set of rules. There is a full ban on bonus advertising. Sites must also use one central self-exclusion system. They must give players account safeguards too.
Our guide to safety tools at crypto casinos shows how patchy these tools can be elsewhere.
What may happen to unapproved sites
The regulator says it will block sites that are not approved. A blocked site may stop loading in Alberta. It may also stop taking bets from Albertans. The report does not say how fast the blocks will come.
We covered the run-up in our look at the 13 October deadline. We also covered Alberta's plan for wider action. Keene's criminal prosecution warning is aimed at the firms that run the sites.
- Check with AGLC whether your casino is approved.
- If it is approved, check that the exact site you use is the approved one.
- If it is not approved, withdraw your whole balance now.
- Do not make any new deposit on a site that is not approved.
- Keep your payment records in case you need to raise a problem later.
What to do now
Start by checking with AGLC whether your casino is approved. If it is not, take your money out now. Do not top up your account. Expect the site to be blocked or to stop taking Alberta bets.
If your site is approved, look at its safety tools. The central self-exclusion system and the account safeguards are there for you. You can also compare any casino's terms in our offers index, but offers do not tell you whether a site is approved.
For more on who may run legal sites in each province, read our guide to online gambling law in Canada. Gambling should stay fun. If it stops being fun, help is free and confidential from the Alberta Addiction Helpline 1-866-332-2322.
Frequently asked questions
How many online casino sites are approved in Alberta?
A Deadspin report dated 19 October says 51 sites are approved. It also says about 30 operators run 50 domains. The counts differ a little, so check with AGLC before you deposit.
What happens to sites that are not approved?
Dan Keene of AGLC said the regulator will begin blocking them. He said firms that break the rules could face criminal prosecution. Expect an unapproved site to be blocked or to stop taking Alberta bets.
What should I do with a balance on an unapproved site?
Withdraw all of it now. Do not make a new deposit. Keep records of your payments in case you need them later. The site may be blocked, which could make withdrawing harder.
What rules do approved sites follow?
Keene said approved sites must follow a full ban on bonus advertising. They must use a central self-exclusion system. They must also give players account safeguards.
Will more sites be approved?
AGLC said Alberta could see 10 to 15 more licensed domains before the end of the year. This is because more operators are moving to run several sites. Check again later.
Where can I see the full list of approved sites?
A Deadspin report of 19 October lists many approved brands, such as BetMGM, FanDuel and Bet365. It does not say where an official list is kept, so check with AGLC before you deposit.
Sources
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