Canada has a thriving gambling industry spread across its 10 provinces. Currently many consider Ontario to be Canada’s largest gambling province, however, Alberta is quickly gaining traction. Alberta is known for its stunning landscapes and thriving economy. It is located on the West side of Canada and is home to several large vibrant cities and a growing tourism sector. Most importantly, Alberta’s government is open to securing new revenue streams, which may open the province up to further gambling options.
In this article we’ll explore the current regulations surrounding betting in Canada, Alberta’s current position in the gambling sector as well as review factors supporting Alberta in becoming Canada’s largest gambling province.
Betting laws and regulations in Canada are a mix of both federal and provincial laws. This means that there are some regulations that apply to every province, and there are some rules and regulations that each province is able to decide for themselves. The Criminal Code of Canada is a piece of legislation that applies to all provinces. The regulation restricts certain types of gambling, except for regulated activities. In section 207(1)(a) the Criminal Code states that it’s illegal for anyone to operate a gambling house or be found using one, except for activities allowed by provincial governments.
As mentioned above, each province is able to create its own laws surrounding gambling in its region. This includes licensing and oversight for casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and any other form of gambling. Provinces usually have their own regulatory bodies to monitor activities. For example, in Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario ensures all activity is legal, while in British Columbia the British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) works to promote safe and legal betting activity.
There are many types of gambling allowed in Canada and each province can determine what types of gambling are legal or illegal in their region. The most typical types of gambling to find across Canada are traditional in-person casinos, horse racing, sports betting, charitable gaming (bingo and raffles), and online casino gambling.
While most forms of gambling are allowed across all provinces, online casino gambling is allowed in some, but not all provinces. British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec all allow online gambling in some form. Ontario was the first province to legalise online casino gaming in 2022, and in doing so also banned local players from using offshore sites at the same time. Ciaran McEneaney shares that in many other provinces players often opt to wager on offshore sites licensed or regulated in provinces where online gambling is allowed. The best online casino options for these purposes usually offer a large range of games and enticing bonuses in order to attract players from all around the country.
While not currently thought of as the largest gambling province in Canada, Alberta does already have a thriving betting industry in place. Alberta boasts a total of 21 traditional land-based casinos. 6 are First Nation casinos and the other 15 are non-reservation casinos. Beyond traditional casinos, Alberta offers players the chance to wager at racetracks, purchase lottery tickets, bet on sports, and engage in charitable gaming activities. In addition, Alberta has one online betting site which welcomes players from the province. “Play Alberta” is the one online casino gambling site in Alberta that offers a range of games to players including slots, table games, and even live dealer games. The money generated through the site stays within the province and supports local programs and communities.
Although Alberta has a thriving betting industry, the province of Ontario is currently considered to be the top gambling region in Canada. This is largely due to the fact that Ontario is home to a few large and extremely successful traditional casinos, like Casino Niagara, Casino Rama, and Fallsview Casino Resort. Ontario has a large population and also attracts a huge number of tourists each year, who visit to see the famous Niagara Falls. These factors contribute to the province currently being considered the leading gambling province in the country. However, Alberta is quickly catching up and there are a few reasons why it may soon bypass Ontario as Canada’s top betting province.
First, the betting industry in Alberta shows economic promise and may boom in the coming years. Alberta has a growing population and a busy tourism sector. These two factors combined could mean Alberta may just bump Ontario out of its current number-one position.
Second, the government in Alberta supports a regulatory framework that allows betting to grow in the region. The provincial government in Alberta has shown their support for expanding the betting industry because they recognize how the gambling sector could contribute to the region’s economy. In recent years they’ve made licensing easier and lightened up regulations to encourage investment.
Third, Alberta is a popular and growing tourist destination. Alberta is home to beautiful national parks like Banff National Park, annual sports events, and festivals, which attract thousands of visitors per year. This is very similar to Ontario, with Niagara Falls. With so many visitors already heading to the province, it makes sense to offer additional entertainment and services, like gambling, to further entice travellers to stay and play.
Fourth, Alberta is tech savvy and they’re using new technologies to boost their gaming sector. The province is beginning to use new tech like mobile gaming and virtual reality to diversify its offerings and grow its market.
While Alberta stands to potentially become Canada’s top gambling province, there are some hurdles the region must overcome. Alberta must consider the social implications of encouraging betting within the province and work to encourage responsible gambling initiatives. By offering education and support services, the province will be able to achieve its gambling industry goals while keeping everyone safe at the same time. Additionally, although the government wants to encourage industry growth, the province must ensure regulatory compliance and integrity. Without this, they may lose public trust and confidence.
Lastly, betting service providers in Alberta should consider the competition and market saturation from neighbouring provinces. Canada offers a plethora of betting choices to players, and as such, the market is busy for providers. Betting establishments and sites should consider small ways to set themselves apart from their competition and work with others to form strategic partnerships.
With a number of busy betting provinces, Canada ensures safe play for bettors by implementing both federal and provincial regulations and laws. While Ontario is currently considered the most popular betting province in the country, others, like Alberta, are quickly gaining traction. Over time, players in Canada and beyond may see a shift, with Alberta becoming Canada’s top gambling province.