Calgary residents who want to gamble online have one provincially regulated option at the moment. Play Alberta launched on October 2, 2020, and it remains the sole legal platform operating under Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission oversight. The platform has grown steadily since then, with over 434,000 registered users and $235 million in net sales during 2024-2025 alone.
This article covers registration requirements, what games and betting markets are available, and what changes are coming to Alberta’s online gambling framework in 2026.
Who Can Register and How
Alberta sets its minimum gambling age at 18, one of the lowest thresholds in Canada. To create an account on Play Alberta, you must verify your identity and prove your age before placing any wagers. The platform uses geolocation technology to confirm you are physically within provincial borders each time you log in.
Registration requires government-issued identification. The verification process checks your documents against provincial records to prevent underage access. Once approved, you can fund your account and begin playing through a web browser or the mobile app.
What Calgary Players Can Access on Regulated Platforms
Play Alberta currently provides slots, virtual table games, live dealer options, and sports betting through its browser and mobile app. The casino games available in Alberta include titles from Evolution such as Roulette, Infinite Blackjack, Baccarat, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Aristocrat Interactive also supplies content to the platform, bringing familiar retail slot titles into the online space.
Calgary residents can place wagers on over 50 sports leagues through the app, including the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, and CFL. AGLC reported $5.3 billion in total wagers across all offerings during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The Mobile App
AGLC released its first Play Alberta app in late 2024. The app launched as a mobile sportsbook, with casino games, lottery products, instant games, and live dealer tables planned for release in early 2025. The app provides access to betting markets on major leagues while maintaining the same responsible gambling tools available on the desktop version.
A unique partnership between Play Alberta and the Calgary Stampede offers exclusive betting markets tied to the annual event. This deal makes Play Alberta the sole sports betting and gaming partner of the Stampede.
Responsible Gambling Tools
Play Alberta integrates GameSense programming and a self-exclusion option into its platform. The self-exclusion program allows users to voluntarily ban themselves from all casinos, racing entertainment centres, and gambling locations across Alberta for a minimum of 1 year.
These features remain accessible through both the browser version and mobile app. AGLC positions responsible gambling as a core function of its regulated platform, and users can set deposit limits, time limits, and cooling-off periods through their account settings.
Where the Money Goes
Gaming proceeds from Play Alberta feed into Alberta’s general revenue fund. In 2023-2024, the platform generated $235 million in net sales. Alberta’s total gambling net operating income reached $1.57 billion that fiscal year, drawn from casinos, video lottery terminals, racing entertainment centres, charitable gaming, and online gambling combined.
The province uses these funds for public programs and services. This revenue model differs from private operator arrangements, where a portion goes to the company and a tax percentage returns to the government.
A New Framework is Coming
Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, passed its third reading on May 8, 2025, and awaits Royal Assent. Once enacted, this legislation will create the Alberta iGaming Corporation and establish a framework for private operators to enter the market under provincial regulation.
Industry representatives from FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, theScore Bet, and Super Group anticipate a first-quarter 2026 launch. Alberta will become the second Canadian province after Ontario to support a competitive online gambling environment with licensed private operators.
The structure splits responsibilities. AGLC continues regulating the market and running Play Alberta. The Alberta iGaming Corporation manages partnerships with incoming private operators. This dual-structure model keeps government oversight in place while opening the market to competition.
Learning from Ontario
Ontario opened its regulated market in 2022. More than 40 companies registered to operate under iGaming Ontario, and over $35 billion in bets were placed during the first year. The province posted more than $3.2 billion Canadian in revenue last year and collected a flat 20% in taxes.
Alberta’s new framework includes features Ontario lacks. A province-wide self-exclusion system covering all licensed platforms will be mandatory. Ontario still operates without a centralized exclusion mechanism more than 3 years after launch. This gap has drawn criticism from responsible gambling advocates, and Alberta appears to be addressing it from the start.
What This Means for Calgary Players
For now, Play Alberta remains the only legal option. Calgary residents can access the platform from any device while physically located in Alberta. The mobile app provides sports betting, and casino features should follow in 2025.
When the market opens in 2026, Calgary players will have access to multiple licensed operators offering sports betting and casino games. Each operator will need provincial approval, and all platforms will connect to the centralized self-exclusion system.
The 18-year age minimum stays in place. Enhanced verification measures are planned under the new regulatory framework to maintain compliance across a larger number of operators.
Calgary residents have a single regulated path to online gambling through Play Alberta. The platform offers casino games, live dealer tables, and sports betting, all under AGLC oversight. Registration requires identity verification and proof of age, and geolocation confirms you are within Alberta each session.
The landscape will expand in 2026 when private operators enter the market under the iGaming Alberta Act. Until then, Play Alberta handles all regulated online gambling in the province. Proceeds support provincial programs, responsible gambling tools are built in, and the minimum age remains 18. These are the basic facts for anyone in Calgary looking to play legally.