The various forms of gambling that people across Canada participate in resulted in revenue of $12.5 billion in 2022.
Statistics Canada has shown that up to 67% of Albertans participate in gambling. In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, gambling brought in an impressive $1.5 billion, exceeding the AGLC’s (Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission) goal for the year and showing an increase from the previous two years.
Generating $1.5 billion, Alberta has made a significant contribution to Canada’s total gambling revenue, although its gambling market isn’t as large as those of other provinces. With that in mind, Alberta is one of the largest Canadian provinces, which may be a factor in its significant contribution to the total.
Alberta has legalized and regulated an array of gaming options. The ones noted below are some of the most popular based on the AGLC’s gaming operations and its 2022-2023 annual report.
Bingo
Bingo has existed for a long time, keeping people entertained and evolving to keep up with player preferences and interests. Though it seemed like Alberta’s bingo scene was fading, the game received a breath of new life during the pandemic when a virtual option was made available.
The patronage of bingo venues, like Edmonton’s Castledowns Bingo Hall, surprisingly went from approximately 150 players to more than 400 when the halls themselves were closed for bingo gatherings. As an alternative, they offered bingo cards for purchase in person and hosted the events on YouTube. The success the halls saw led to this becoming a permanent option since so many players preferred this method because they could play in their pajamas.
Lotteries
Alberta has thousands of places to purchase lottery tickets and a thriving selection of VLT (virtual lottery terminals) and online lottery options. The amount Albertans spent in 2022 on VLT games amounted to $545,609, while lottery ticket sales amounted to $978,449, making the lottery a hugely profitable form of gambling that appeals to Alberta’s residents.
In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, more than 50 winners got a big payout of over one million dollars. The biggest winner won a life-changing $70 million from a Lotto Max ticket.
Casinos & Slot Games
Casinos and their slot games are a popular gambling option across the country, and this certainly extends to Alberta. Slot games stand out as the preferred gameplay option at gaming establishments and have become major profit drivers at more than just casinos. Racing Entertainment Centers (REC), which offers slot machines in addition to horserace betting, generate the majority of their revenue from slot machines, not race betting.
Sports Betting & Horseracing
Sports betting has been a hot topic in Canada in recent years since the federal government gave single-game sports betting the go-ahead in August 2021. This regulation update changed the nature of the gambling industry significantly by allowing provinces to make their own decisions about regulating this now-legal gaming option. Alberta introduced online sports betting options, which generated $2.7 million from online gambling alone.
Horseracing has been legal for decades, and Alberta has many centers dedicated to this pastime. Most horseracing tracks are also home to slot machines and VLT, making the locations a draw for gamblers with a range of preferences.
Charitable Gaming
Gambling, with charities at the heart, is incredibly popular within the province. The AGLC allows funds to be raised through most gambling forms, including many discussed here, such as bingo, lotteries, and casinos.
Through gambling events, over 19,000 charities in Alberta are supported. The charities support a vast range of causes, enabling players to support causes they care about, whether they want to support arts and culture, social and community services, or access to social programs or youth programs.
The province is the only one in Canada that offers gaming licenses to charities to host events, and it has proved to be a lucrative model for organizations. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the charitable gaming model raised $321 million, and in the last fiscal year, $383 million.
What About Online Gambling?
It’s no secret that online gambling in Canada has become increasingly popular, especially as provinces like Ontario have opened up their online gaming markets. It’s natural to wonder if this popularity has extended to Alberta’s gambling interests and habits.
Play Alberta is the province’s official platform for regulated online gaming, but Albertans can legally access offshore gambling sites. This means Albertans can participate in online casinos based outside of Canada, including those that accept Gigadat, a payment method not accepted at most casinos. Because of the access to offshore or unregulated sites, the popularity of online gambling in Alberta is more difficult to track.
Despite this, the online sign-ups for Alberta’s regulated online gaming platform were up 46% this past fiscal year. Players spent $4.4 billion on the platform, up 22% from the year before. Through Play Alberta, residents of the province can access gaming options like slot games, live dealer games, lottery games, and sports betting. The platform caters to gamblers with various entertainment preferences.
Conclusion
The majority of Albertans participate in some form of gambling, whether it’s bingo, land-based casinos, online gaming, or any other form mentioned here. The broad range of popular gambling options in Alberta has led to a lucrative industry that has benefitted the province and its many charities.
Although online gambling in Alberta is not as extensively regulated or as wide-ranging as it is in some other provinces, Alberta’s online gaming platform is growing in popularity. And despite not seeing the same revenue as other provinces, it remains successful due to the popular options available to Albertans.