AGLC launches PlayAlberta online casino

Canada’s province of Alberta has just launched a government run online casino. PlayAlberta (at playalberta.ca) started taking bets yesterday.

Like other Canadian provincial net casinos, PlayAlberta is government owned and regulated. Only residents of Alberta can register as customers.

Also like the other provinces, the rationale for launching a government run internet casino is twofold:

1. to give local residents a safe, regulated playing option, and (most important)
2. to generate some extra government revenue

As the The Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (“AGLC”) website explains:

“All revenue generated through Play Alberta goes directly back into the Government of Alberta’s General Revenue Fund to support valued programs and services that Albertans rely on every day”

They’re hoping PlayAlberta will generate $3.7 million dollars annually for Albertans (from Albertans). Having had the benefit of seeing how their neighbours have faired at meeting expectations, perhaps they have set the bar a little lower to avoid disappointment.

NeoPollard Interactive is the government’s technology partner, contracted to operate the casino for the next 7 years.

At the moment the site offers a limited range of RNG games (mostly slots), keno type games and the ability to purchase lottery tickets. A pretty modest game line up initially with plans to expand over time. No live dealers as yet.

PlayAlberta’s full range of table games. Guess you have to start somewhere.

Canadian Provincial Government Casinos

With the Alberta domino falling, all of Canada’s 5 largest provinces by population now offer provincial government run casinos to their residents.

That’s 90% of Canada’s population that has access to a government owned online casino.

The first cab off the rank was British Columbia’s PlayNow, who have since expanded their offering to include live dealers from Evolution’s Vancouver studio.

Quebecers have long been able to play at Espacejeux.com.  While Manitobans were given access to BCLC’s PlayNow in 2013.

Players from Ontario got their chance to have a flutter in 2015 when Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation launched Play OLG.