Online gambling is steadily growing in numerous countries across the globe. One of the biggest markets that is currently going through a lot of changes is Canada. The market there is slowly being regulated, province by province. This is very important for Canadian players, who will be able to opt to use safe and regulated gambling platforms without worrying about safety and security. While Ontario is leading the charge with its regulation, other provinces are right behind.
One of the provinces that is closely following it is Alberta. The province is moving towards complete regulation. The online casino Alberta market will be fully regulated within a year or two. Until then, players will have to learn how to pick secure platforms. Let’s look at the current state of online gambling in Alberta.
Who Regulates Online Gambling in Alberta?
The regulatory body of online gambling in Alberta is AGLC. That stands for Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis commission. It is responsible for establishing iGaming rules in the province. Currently, the local regulations indicate that the only fully legal way to gamble online in Alberta is through the AGLC’s website. On top of that, since it’s run by the province’s government, it promises that all the revenue will go to Alberta. That serves as a motivation for the locals to gamble there.
However, there are some limitations in terms of welcome bonuses and game variety. Offshore operators tend to offer more when it comes to both. But more on that later. This will likely change soon, as Google Trends are showing an increase in interest when it comes to gambling in this province.
Are All Forms of Gambling Legal?
When it comes to different types of gambling, at the time of writing this article, all forms of gambling were permitted. That includes:
- Sports betting
- Online casinos
- Lottery and Bingo
That’s great because it lets people enjoy different ways of trying out their luck. Sports fans can place their bets on their favourite teams, even if it’s a single wager that became legal in 2021. Slot lovers and table games enthusiasts can also enjoy playing these games on online gambling platforms. Last but not least, bingo and lottery lovers also have something to look forward to, as they can legally play those games as well.
This is a great look for the province, as its residents don’t have to travel to neighbouring provinces. That sort of behaviour has become a standard practice in the US, where individual states have specific regulations on each of the abovementioned gambling activities. So while a certain state permits sports betting, it doesn’t allow online casinos. So the locals have to make a trip to another state if they want to enjoy spinning the reels of their favourite slots.
Can Alberta Use Offshore Online Casinos?
Despite having a regulated website where gamblers can have fun, offshore casinos are still technically permitted. Given that they’re not illegal, players can still register on platforms abroad and gamble. However, there is no guarantee that players will get their payouts. As they’re playing on platforms that are outside of Canada, they’re at their mercy, as Canadian laws do not apply to those platforms. Therefore, players are willingly risking their money. So why do they do that?
- Variety of platforms
- Different numbers of games
- Competitive odds
There’s only one website that permits legal gambling in Alberta. However, registering with other offshore operators is a good opportunity. It permits players to claim different welcome bonuses. On top of that, some operators have thousands of casino games available on their platforms. That means that players have a much higher number of choices. When it comes to sports betting, some brands offer the best odds globally. Therefore, sports fans can earn more money if their bets win.
But as previously mentioned, there is a challenge. Some of these platforms aren’t secure and might potentially scam players. Luckily, there are things to consider before creating an account with an offshore operator. Keep reading to learn how to recognise a legit platform.
How to Know If an Online Casino is Safe and Secure?
You can find hundreds of legal offshore online casinos. The important part is to know where to look. There are a couple of important gambling authorities globally that stand behind any regulated brand. The top two are Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission. So the first thing you should do when you land on an online casino is scrolling to the bottom section.
There, you will see which authority has checked the safety of the online casino. If you see MGC or UKGC, feel free to register with these brands. Of course, you can do a bit more digging to confirm whether the operators are trustworthy.
Head over to Google and start seeking reviews of these brands. On top of that, you can go to Android Google Play or Apple App Store and seek user reviews. You’ll quickly discover the top brands which are completely safe and secure.
When it comes to security, make sure that the online platform has an SSL certificate. It ensures that your communication with the online platform is 100% encrypted. Another thing to consider are payment methods. Opt for an e-wallet or even one of the popular cryptocurrencies. That way, you’ll keep all your banking data private.
After taking these steps, you’ll know whether the platform you’re planning to use is safe for you.
Alberta is on the right track to fully regulating online gambling. It’s safe to say that the province will likely follow what Ontario did at some point. It’ll regulate the market and offer the brand to join its local market. Therefore, offshore casinos will likely become illegal at some point. That’s normal to expect, as billions of Canadian dollars are going to offshore brands instead of staying in the country.
However, before that happens, Alberta residents have a local gambling platform they can use. If they want to explore other options, there’s a sea of offshore operators that offer thousands of games and generous welcome bonuses.