Alberta launches regulated esports betting
Alberta became the second province in Canada to officially launch a regulated gambling market on Monday. A total of 22 platforms went live on day one, with many offering esports betting.
Operators were unable to advertise free bets and bonuses for new customers ahead of the launch, which may limit the new customer sign-ups. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) allows companies to offer bonuses but bans promoting them in ads.
The 22 platforms that launched include both online casinos and sportsbooks. Alberta residents can now access the following platforms:
- bet365 Sportsbook
- bet365 Casino
- BetMGM
- Betty
- BetVictor
- Caesars Sportsbook & Casino
- Caesars Palace Online Casino
- Horseshoe Online Casino
- Casino Days
- DAZN Bet
- Delta Casino
- DraftKings
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- FanDuel Casino
- Golden Nugget Online Casino
- LuckyDays
- theScore Bet
- theScore Casino
- Hollywood Casino
- BetRivers
- Stardust Casino
- TonyBet
In addition, users can continue to use PlayAlberta, the state-run platform that previously had a monopoly on legal gambling.
Esports Betting At Sportsbooks, Prediction Markets Limited
Of those that launched on July 13, ten offer esports betting. Alberta residents can now wager on the esports World Cup, among other major events.
Polymarket, however, has now restricted all of Canada from participating in its esports and other markets.
Previously, the platform only limited the country’s other regulated gambling market, Ontario, from trading on events. It extended that to include Alberta and other provinces earlier this year.
Kalshi, meanwhile, has partnered with Wealthsimple, an online financial broker. The collaboration will see the launch of Wealthsimple Predict.
Wealthsimple says it will offer prediction market trading to 4,000 events tied to economic, financial, and climate events, but did not mention any esports or other sporting events.
In a press release, Alex Cuoci of Kalshi said the partnership aimed “to give everyday investors in Canada access to fair, secure, and regulated prediction markets.”
The AGLB has prohibited betting on political events at regulated sportsbooks.
Alberta Follows Ontario’s Model
Ontario launched its regulated gambling market in 2022. Alberta lawmakers approved legislation to follow the province last year.
In approving the legislation, Minister Dale Nally said it was designed to keep gamblers safer. He said that a “significant number of Albertans are potentially being preyed upon by grey-market sites.”
Nally also said that the province was largely following the blueprint set in Ontario. He stated, “It’s going to be very similar to Ontario, because we’re following their model. As far as I’m concerned, they build the roadmap. We’ll massage it a little bit, but it’s been inspired by the experience in Ontario. It’s going to be an open and free market.”
Ontario has seen revenue growth, largely driven by online casinos. In Alberta, estimates suggest the newly launched market could generate over $700 million in annual revenue.
