Online casinos in Canada have been in full swing since the country launched its first online gambling market in Ontario. Now, Alberta is another front on which providers of online casino games and sports betting services have their eyes fixed.
Online gambling activities and sports betting are still in their infancy in Alberta and other Canadian provinces, but things are slowly changing.
In this expert guide, written by our gaming experts and analysts, we will name the top of Alberta’s online casinos, mainly catering to fans of casino games, as opposed to sports bettors.
Apart from listing the top online casinos in Alberta, we will explain what criteria we followed in choosing proper online Alberta casinos, see which casino games are most favoured by Canadians, and provide an overview of the legality of online gambling sites.
| Online Casino | License | Gaming content | Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megaslot Casino | Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) | Slots, Bonus Buy, Live Casino, Jackpot Games | 5 | Visit site |
| ComeOn | MGA | Casino, Live Casino, Slots, Jackpot Slots, Megaways, Bonus Buy, Sports Betting, WeSpin | 4.9 | Visit site |
| N1 Casino | MGA | Slots, LIve Casino, Mystery Drops, Bonus Buy, Instant Win, Table Games, Drops & Wins, Jackpot Games, Aviator | 4.8 | Visit site |
| Casombie | Gov. of Curacao | Slots, Jackpot Games, Live Casino | 4.6 | Visit site |
| Karamba | MGA, UK Gambling Commission | Slots, Jackpot Games, Table Games, Live Casino, Sports, Virtual Sports | 4.5 | Visit site |
Top Recommended Alberta Online Casino Sites
- Megaslot Casino – Best for playing online slot games
- ComeOn Casino – Best for community gaming
- N1 Casino – Best gaming and player features
- Casombie – Best design and top mobile casino
- Karamba – Best promotion section
Reviews of the Best Online Casinos in Alberta
Gambling online in Alberta is available at land casinos like Eagle River Casino or online casinos or online at real online pokies in australia. Players themselves are allowed to play at the best online casino sites as long as they are of legal gambling age:
Megaslot
Megaslot Casino is an online Alberta casino site that will probably appeal primarily to fans of slot games. Of course, there are sections for table games and live dealer games, but online slot machines are what make much of the casino’s gaming content.
At Megaslot, online players can play games from the industry’s best developers and suppliers of online casino games. The Slots section includes titles from over 40 leading slots providers, including Amatic, Yggdrasil, Spinomenal, Play’N Go, NetEnt, and so on. It is unarguably one of Alberta’s best online casino sites regarding slots.
Apart from the Slots category, Megaslot has two more game tabs dedicated (mainly) to slots. The Jackpots section includes hundreds of titles with fixed jackpots, as well as progressive jackpot slot games. There is also a ‘Bonus Buy’ tab dedicated to slots with a feature buy option, i.e. where you can pay extra to unlock the game’s bonus feature.
Pros:
- Excellent slot catalogue
- High-quality software developers
- Available progressive jackpot games
- MGA license
Cons:
- Debit cards aren’t accepted
- No phone line support
ComeOn
ComeOn, like Megaslot, offers both conventional online and progressive jackpot slots, but Megaslot still has a more abundant collection. But ComeOn has one feature that makes it unique among slots-centred online casinos not on Betstop: WeSpin!
WeSpin is a proprietary slot gaming experience combining streaming with gambling. An experienced slots streamer hosts a streaming session where ComeOn casino players can buy into and share in the casino winnings the streamer generates.
The streamer can place larger bets and unlock in-game slot features due to having a larger bank on hand. In turn, winnings are distributed based on the amount the player invested in the session. This community-centred slot experience allows players and streamers to chat and share advice. Players can join as many sessions as they like for amounts ranging between $20 and $100.
Another thing that makes ComeOn a player-oriented casino platform is its choice of live dealer casino games. The selection of live casino games you can play online at ComeOn Casino spans dozens of classics and variations of table games like baccarat, blackjack, and poker tournaments. There are also alternative options like live game shows, live Sic Bo, and Live Monopoly.
Pros:
- Community gaming
- Allowed streaming
- Great live dealer choice
- Excellent mobile experience
Cons:
- The game catalogue isn’t as extensive
- No 24/7 customer support
N1
N1 casino works with some of the top names in the iGamng development sector. These include brands like 1×2 gaming, PGSoft, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, and Relax Gaming, among others.
Many of the best online casinos Alberta add extra features or promotions to engage their members, but N1 seems to take it a step further. To engage slot players, N1 has created its new Mystery Drops feature.
In this tab, players will find top casino games like Book of Dead, Wanted Dead or a Wild, and The Dog House. Top games like these were popular enough before N1’s Mystery Drops feature, which awards one of three jackpot-like prizes: Major, Grand, and Mega.
In addition to this, N1, like Megaslot, has a Bonus Buy section, then a category for Drops & Wins slots, and a menu dedicated to jackpot games. There is also an Aviator tab for the game Aviator by Spribe, where users participating in the game can win a portion of a CA $7,000 prize pool and over 5,000 free bets doled out to the best-performing players.
Pros:
- Top-notch gaming and player features
- New VIP section
- Mystery Drops feature with jackpots
- Many tournaments
Cons:
- No mobile app
- High minimum deposit
Casombie
Casombie is one of the best mobile casinos on this list, as well as one of the best-looking. It sports a colourful and vivid design and zombie theme but is also a gaming platform easy to navigate.
There are hundreds of mobile games which are optimized for play on any mobile device – from iOS-powered smartphones and tablets to Android and Windows devices.
Note that there is currently no mobile application you can download. The only way to play on mobile is via a mobile web browser. Even so, it is one of our top recommended online casinos in Alberta for playing mobile slots.
Apart from being a visual treat, Casombie offers excellent bank management and convenient deposit methods, including payments with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.
Pros:
- Mobile optimized casino site
- Crypto-friendly casino
- Great welcome bonuses
- Over 4,000 games
Cons:
- Withdrawals may take longer
- The phone line may not be free
Karamba
We highlighted promotions as Karamba casino’s best feature, and it’s entirely true. Currently, they offer a 100% match deposit bonus, on top of additional deposit bonuses and promotions for registered users.
Apart from being an online casino content provider, Karamba functions as an online sportsbook. You can place bets on hundreds, even thousands, of weekly sporting events anywhere in the world. Expectedly, a welcome bonus for sports betting is also provided as free bets.
But these are the welcome bonuses available solely to new Alberta players. In addition, there are at least half a dozen other casino and sports promotions, including sports betting boosts, drops and wins with hundreds of thousands of dollars in play every month, slot tournaments and poker tournaments, weekly prize draws, and more.
Pros:
- Excellent bonuses and tournaments
- Mobile friendly
- Multilingual site
- Available customer support
Cons:
- No live casino games
- Lacks progressive slots
Gambling Laws in Alberta
Laws and regulations related to online casinos and sports betting sites in Canada are confused because they contradict one another. For instance, Canadian federal law does not explicitly outlaw but also does not consider legal some forms of gambling.
Yet the law also allows each Canadian province to determine the status of online casinos and betting operators individually. This has led some provinces, including Alberta, to take a more easy and tolerant approach to licensed offshore operators.
Things are getting even more relaxed on the heels of Ontario launching its iGaming Ontario market in early 2022. Alberta, as one of Canada’s most populous provinces, seems to be getting cozier with the idea of online gaming – both casino and sports betting.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) Commission oversees online gaming in the province. The Commission has approved the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, which allows gambling online at Alberta’s own PlayAlberta.ca platform.
The legal gambling age in Alberta for any casino game or sports betting event, including horse racing, is 18 years.
Still, Alberta gamblers can easily access other online casinos, like the five we mentioned. Players are not liable for any infractions so long as they are of legal gambling age, i.e. 18 or older.
What to Look for in a Top Alberta Online Casino
Even with Alberta gamblers free to access any online casino, it is still advisable to pick the brand carefully. The aforementioned casinos were selected because they comply with our ranking criteria. Here are the requirements we advise you to follow before signing up with any Alberta online casino:
- Security – Security at online Canadian casinos can be measured in several ways. First, check if the site has a secure connection by looking for a padlock at the leftmost of the address bar. If there is a padlock, the site’s connection is secured. Next, you can see how the website protects your account and funds by checking what verification methods are used, how often, what information the casino gathers, and how that data is used.
- Licensing – A license is a must. Let that be your motto when selecting an Alberta online casino. All the best casinos in Alberta are licensed by established international regulators. Licensing information can be found at the bottom of the page. Look for licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, the government of Gibraltar, or even Canada’s Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
- Bonuses – Bonuses should not be a priority when you choose your casino/sportsbook. But after you’ve checked all other criteria, it would be preferable to have several promotions at your disposal. And remember to pay less attention to how big, or attractive the bonus is and more to its promotional terms, conditions, and wagering requirements.
- Payments – Deposit methods can make or break a casino. Many players tend to quit playing angrily after a gambling operator fails to approve a bigger-than-average withdrawal, takes too long to process payouts, or charges high withdrawal fees. Ensure that the casino has payment options suited to Canadians, like the bank-based option Interac or the digital wallets Skrill and PayPal.
- Platform performance – Platform performance encompasses aspects like functionality on mobile and desktop, customer support, technical support, multiple languages (mainly French), and so on. A robust responsible gambling policy is almost equally important to the license. Responsible gambling tools give players on-demand support if they need to cut down on their gaming activity or see professional assistance.
Popular Casino Games Played in Alberta Online Casinos
Because Alberta has a tradition of gambling at land-based casino venues, players are often attracted to digitalized versions of poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette.
But online casinos offer live dealer games both as entirely automated, i.e. software-based options, or in live mode. The latter involves live dealer games against real croupiers and, in cases like poker, against real players.
But the reason online casino Alberta sites are growing in popularity is also owed to an emerging demographic of young mobile players. Young casino players are generally attracted to online slots, of which there is no shortage in the online gambling scene.
Different types of slot mechanisms like Mega Moolah and similar jackpot slots, cluster slots, and slots with cascading reels and various in-game features have proven an endless source of entertainment for young audiences.
Top Land-Based Casinos in Alberta
If you don’t want to gamble online, whatever the reason, for gaming, you can stick to local casino venues, and there are several such in Alberta worth mentioning:
Casino Yellowhead
Description: Casino Yellowhead is located in the Alberta capital of Edmonton and is one of the city’s top entertainment centers. The casino has hundreds of slot machines, over 20 live dealer games, and over two dozen video lottery terminals, among other gaming content.
Website: https://www.purecasinoyellowhead.com
Address: 12464 153 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5V 1S1
Phone: (780) 424-9467
River Cree Resort And Casino
Description: River Cree Resort And Casino, also located in Edmonton, includes more than 30 live dealer tables for blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, and baccarat. It also has over 1,100 slot machines.
Website: https://www.rivercreeresort.com
Address: 300 E Lapotac Blvd, Edmonton, AB T7X 3Y3
Phone: (780) 484-2121
Medicine Hat Lodge
Description: Medicine Hat Lodge is probably Alberta’s biggest gaming and entertainment centre, sprawling over 27,000 square feet. It features numerous gaming tables and slot machines, in addition to a golf course and an aqua park.
Website: https://www.medhatlodge.com
Address: 1051 Ross Glen Drive SE Medicine Hat, AB T1B 3T8 Canada
Phone: 1-800-661-8095 (Toll Free); or 403-529-2222
Stoney Nakoda Resort Casino
Description: This is unarguably Canada’s most scenic casino resort, overlooking the high peaks of the Rockies. The casino is a top entertainment center with over 200 slot machines and over 20 table games, including poker tables. The resort is about half an hour’s drive west of Calgary.
Website: https://www.stoneynakodaresort.com
Address: 888 Nakoda Way, Kananaskis, AB T0L 1N0
Phone: (403) 881-2830
Jackpot Casino Red Deer
Description: This casino is one of several top brick-and-mortar casinos in Alberta, operating since 1997. Jackpot Casino Red Deer occupies 25,000 feet of gaming floor with over 300 slot machines, poker tables, and other live dealer games.
Website: https://www.jackpotcasinoreddeer.com
Address: 4950 47 Ave, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6P8
Phone: (403) 342-5825
FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Alberta?
Online gambling is not outright banned or outlawed in Alberta. The province has one online gaming operator licensed by the local government. However, dozens of licensed online casinos offer their services to Alberta players.
How old do I have to be to play casino games in Alberta?
To legally gamble online in Alberta, you must be 18 or older.
Does Alberta have a gambling regulatory body?
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is the province’s primary regulator of gambling activities.
Are my winnings from Alberta casino sites taxable?
Players in Alberta, or any other Canadian province, will be required to pay taxes on gambling winnings only if they gamble as a profession, i.e. they are professional gamblers. The Canadian Revenue Agency does not obligate casual players to pay taxes on their casino or sports winnings.
Where to look for gambling addiction information in Alberta?
If you are already a registered member of an online casino, visit the casino’s responsible gaming section for assistance related to problem gambling. Otherwise, you can reach out to the Alberta Health Services’ Online Gambling department for more information by calling 1-866-332-2322.