Alberta Sports Betting

Alberta’s journey to a regulated, open sports betting market culminated on July 13, 2026, with the official launch of the province’s commercial iGaming industry.

Before this historic change, Play Alberta, operated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), served as the province's only legally authorized online sportsbook. Retail sports betting remains available via Sport Select at physical lottery kiosks, alongside roughly 6,000 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) located throughout the province.

The commercial launch brought BetMGM into Alberta’s regulated market on July 13, 2026. The operator already had a recognizable local connection through Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who has showed up in BetMGM responsible-gambling campaigns.

Alberta Sports Betting Timeline

Check out the highlights of Alberta sports betting throughout the years:

• August 2021: Bill C-218 comes into full effect, legalizing single-game sports betting across Canada and allowing provinces to manage their own sports betting frameworks.

• September 2021: Play Alberta launches on Sept. 1 as the province’s first and only government-run online sportsbook.

• December 2021: The AGLC begins accepting initial vendor applications through the Alberta Purchasing Connection, laying the early groundwork for private expansion.

• May 2025: The Alberta Legislature passes Bill 48 (the iGaming Alberta Act), establishing the legal framework for a private, competitive online gambling market.

• July 13, 2026: The Market Officially Opens. Alberta transitions to an open market, allowing major commercial sportsbooks to legally launch provincial platforms alongside Play Alberta. The move also included the legal rollout of online casinos in Alberta.

How to Start Betting in Alberta

Getting started with a regulated Alberta online sportsbook takes only a few minutes.

Because the province launched its competitive, open market on July 13, 2026, you're no longer locked into using a single government platform.

Follow these steps to create your Alberta online betting account, deposit funds safely, and place your first wager.

 Select a sportsbook

Choose an approved sportsbook from AiGC’s directory of registered iGaming sites. Private options include BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings and FanDuel, while Play Alberta remains available as the province-run platform. Look for the AiGC logo on approved operator advertising and confirm that the sportsbook is in the official directory before registering.

Register online

Click the "Sign Up" or "Register" button on the sportsbook's site or mobile app. You must provide your legal name, date of birth, email, and residential address. Regulators require these details to verify you're at least 18 years old and physically located within Alberta borders.

Deposit funds

Funding an account can be done in a matter of minutes. Sportsbooks accept several payment methods.

Choose your betting market

Navigate to your preferred sport league (such as the NHL or CFL) and choose your wager type. Your selected bet will populate on your bet slip where you can enter your stake and lock in your wager. Available betting markets include:

• Point Spreads. Spread betting is a bet on the margin of victory in a game.
• Moneylines. Moneyline betting is when you pick the winner of the game or event.
• Totals. A total, also known as an over/under, is a bet on the number of points both teams will combine to score in a game.
• Props Bets. A prop bet, short for a proposition, wager that is not directly tied to the final score or outcome.

There are four provincial professional sports teams to bet on in Alberta. Since the province’s open market launched on July 13, 2026, bettors can use registered private sportsbooks such as BetMGM alongside Play Alberta to bet on their favorite local teams.

NHL Betting in Alberta

Calgary Flames

After the Flames' transition from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980, they had success in reaching the playoffs. Now, they're trying to win their first Stanley Cup since the 1989-90 season.

Flames Odds

Edmonton Oilers

Formerly known as the Alberta Oilers, this franchise became the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 when they transitioned from the WHA to the NHL. When comparing the Oilers to the Calgary Flames, their provincial rivals, they are considered the more successful franchise as they attempt to win their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Oilers Odds

Recommended resource to help you bet on hockey in Alberta:

• How to Bet on Hockey Guide

 CFL Betting in Alberta

 Calgary Stampeders 

The Calgary Stampeders are looking to win their next Grey Cup since the 2018 season.

Historically, the Stampeders have won 8 out of 17 Grey Cup appearances.

 Edmonton Elks

The community-owned Edmonton Elks are last in the West Division and are struggling more so at home than on the road.

Despite not having the best season, the Elks historically won six more Grey Cups (14 in total) than their provincial rivals, the Calgary Stampeders.