The Best Online Casinos in Alberta

Online Gambling’s Legality in Alberta

Provinces in Canada have been in charge of their own gambling laws since the Criminal Code was passed in 1970. Since then, gambling legislation has been strict in all provinces, with only state-run sites approved to offer online gambling services to Canadian residents. 

Alberta has one site, PlayAlberta, licensed to provide these services in the state, regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). PlayAlberta is a new addition to Alberta’s gambling scene, having been launched in 2020. There are also over 20 casinos across the province, offering one of the widest selections of land-based gambling in the country.   

‘The Grey Zone’

Most of the online casinos available to players in Alberta are based in foreign territories and regulated by other gambling jurisdictions. Since these casinos aren’t based in Canada, Canadians are legally allowed to access their sites in a legal loophole that’s become known as the grey zone. This means licensed operators based in other countries can freely provide their services to Alberta-based players. 

It’s no surprise that numerous global brands have chosen to take advantage of the grey zone, including sites like Betway Casino, Casumo, PlayOJO, and several White Hat Gaming sites such as JackpotCity. We aim to bring you only the best from this selection of sites, and Alberta players can pick from this broad selection without fear of repercussion. 

How We Review the Best Online Casinos in Alberta

Our experienced and skilled reviewers take a lot into account before recommending an Alberta online casino to our users. Here are the main factors we look for when considering the top betting sites in Canada.

Licensing

Since international sites operate in Alberta without direct regulation from the AGLC or any other body, we want to make sure you and your money are safe and secure. That’s why we look for sites licensed by trusted regulators from around the world, such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). 

Players can rest assured that sites carrying these licences are subjected to regular audits by independent regulators to ensure everything is legal and fair. If an online casino doesn’t carry a licence from a regulator we have full faith in, we simply won’t recommend it. 

Games Selection

In order to impress us, a casino needs to offer a wide range of excellent games. We look for range within gaming categories, including slots, progressive jackpots, table games and live dealer options, as well as variety within these categories. In addition, we expect an array of the best software developers like Microgaming and Playtech to be present, as well as lesser-known providers like ELK Studios and Jade Rabbit Gaming that offer variety to our players. 

Bonuses and Promotions

We want to see a great welcome bonus on offer, as well as a string of bonus opportunities for existing players. In this part of our review, we also conduct a review of the player-friendly nature of the site’s terms and conditions, which often hide the true quality of a bonus. Extra points are gained from us if a casino offers a no deposit bonus to allow new players to get a feel for things before spending any of their own cash. 

Customer Support

We only recommend casinos that treat their players well, and a large part of that is providing good customer service. Email and/or phone contact is a given, but what we’re really looking for is a 24/7 live chat option and sites with an active social media presence. 

Site Design and Layout

First impressions matter, especially in the world of online casinos. That’s why we expect an Alberta online casino site to make an immediate impact with a great look and theme. However, when it comes to design, we’re searching for more than just a pretty face ‒ we want the layout of the site to be easily navigable, without looking too cluttered or messy. Extra sub-headings within game categories and an option to search by both title and software provider also gets the thumbs up from us. 

Casino Games in Alberta

Here are some of the top gaming categories available at Canadian casino sites, and what to expect from them. 

Slots

The slots category at any online casino is likely to have the widest selection of games within it. Most sites will host the classics like NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest and Play’n Go’s Book of Dead, but slot titles come with a range of themes and myriad gameplay features, and we want to see as many as possible.

Variety is of the utmost importance in this category, which means offering players a decent range of progressive jackpot slots like Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, a game that has created numerous multi-millionaires over the years. Keep an eye out for those Alberta casinos that replenish their collection, because that’s where you’re most likely to find exciting new slots. 

Table Games

Classic games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette are at the heart of most table game sections at casino sites. Standard games are expected, but the better table game casinos provide players with multiple variants of popular titles, coming from a wide array of software providers. 

Poker

An often-overlooked category at online casinos these days, we believe poker is still worthy of a place at the top table of casino options. Texas Hold’em remains the most popular variant, and you’ll find this at most online casinos. However, the best betting sites will expand their options to cover various forms of Stud poker such as Mississippi and Caribbean, as well as numerous other variants. 

Poker games can come in three different forms: random number generated (RNG) games, where you play against automated opponents; video poker, which is played solo; and live dealer poker, which offers players true-to-life casino experience. 

Live Casino

Speaking of live casino games, this category has seen the biggest rise in popularity of all online casino games over the last decade or so. The likes of Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play provide table games streamed directly from state-of-the-art studios, where players compete against other real players or directly against a professional dealer. This area of online gambling continues to innovate by developing games inspired by much-loved TV game shows and family board games, such as Crazy Time, Dreamcatcher, and Monopoly Live. 

Online Casino Bonuses

Casinos need to keep their players happy in order to compete with the plethora of other top-quality sites on the market. Here are some of the most common bonuses Alberta casino sites offer.

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit bonuses can be offered as a new customer promotion or as a deal for existing players. Either way, the concept is the same: the casino will match a percentage of your deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a welcome bonus may state a 100% match up to $100, meaning that if a player was to deposit $100, they’d receive the same amount again in bonus cash. 

Free Spins

Free spins are a common addition to a welcome package, usually issued alongside a matched deposit, although some casinos will just offer a big stack of spins for new players. The number of free spins offered can vary greatly between casinos, but you’ll usually be given a few specific slots to use them on. Free spins promos are a great way to get used to a new casino site and try out some of the games on offer. 

No Deposit Bonuses

A no deposit bonus offers a small amount of bonus cash or a handful of free spins simply for registering at an online casino. These pre-deposit offers are a great way to get a feel for a new site without risking any cash. Be aware, however, this type of bonus will normally have strict terms and conditions attached. 

Common Terms and Conditions

Always check the small print attached to Alberta casino bonuses, as the terms and conditions can significantly alter the quality of an offer. The most irritating condition is that of wagering requirements, where players must wager their bonus amount a set number of times before they can withdraw any winnings from it. 

Average requirements are around 35x, meaning that a $10 bonus would require $350 worth of wagering to clear it. Some casinos, like PlayOJO, have removed all wagering requirements from its site, taking on legendary status as a result. Other common T&Cs include time limits, winning caps, game weightings, game exclusions and payments exclusions ‒ always read these in full to avoid any unexpected surprises. 

Payment Options in Alberta

Some popular payment methods in other jurisdictions aren’t available for Canadian players. However, there are still several top choices for banking options at casinos in Alberta, which we’ve broken down below.

Bank Cards

Deposits with bank cards have traditionally been difficult at casinos in Canada, especially those based offshore, but this is no longer the case. You’ll find that bank cards are available at all Alberta casinos, and that this method always opts players in to receive bonuses. On the downside, withdrawals with this method are among the slowest, sometimes taking up to five working days. 

e-Wallets

e-Wallets are one of the most widely used deposit and withdrawal methods at online casinos in Canada. Neteller, Skrill and ecoPayz are the most used, all of which offer similar perks, including secure payments, lightning deposits, and fast withdrawals, where players tend to receive their requests in an instant. e-Wallets are sometimes exempt from welcome bonuses, so check the small print. 

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards come in many forms. Many credit card providers like Mastercard offer prepaid cards, while Vanilla and Paysafecard are other popular options. The main benefit of using a prepaid card is that players can easily keep track of their budget, since only preloaded funds can be spent. Like e-wallets, prepaid cards can sometimes be disqualified from deposit-related bonuses, and withdrawals cannot be made using this method. 

Pay by Phone Bill

Pay by phone bill options like Boku and PayForIt will take the cost of your deposit from your pay as you go balance or add it to your monthly phone bill. This is an easy way to make deposits, but these options aren’t able to facilitate any withdrawals. Pay by phone bill methods often also have strict deposit limits on how much you can deposit, so won’t be suitable for the highest rollers.

Interac

Interac is an online payment method that allows you to make bank transfers easily and without fuss. There are two different ways to make deposits at online casinos: Interac e-Transfer uses an email address and a security question to authorize payments, while Interac Online processes payments directly from one bank account to another.

While Interac Online is the easier method, it’s less available, with several casinos only allowing payments from a small number of banks via this method. Interac e-transfer, on the other hand, is one of the most freely available deposit methods.