Best Online Casinos in Alberta According To Casino.Ca

Long time coming At times, it felt like the longest wait between the announcement that Alberta would be launching a commercial online casino market and the actual launch. Many wondered if it would actually happen. Was it going to be possible to fulfill so many competing demands? Well, the detractors have been proven wrong, and the market is now in full swing. The government’s strategy is to help operators shift from the grey market to legal status. Before launch, huge swathes of the province’s iGamers played at offshore sites, and while many were safe and reputable, they were not regulated. There is a centralized self-exclusion system to let players be in full control of their gambling habits. The iGaming market is poised to make $76 million for the province in its first year, according to Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally. However, in an interview with the Edmonton Journal, he said it wasn’t about revenue but about protecting players. In addition, there are strict rules for promotion, marketing and advertising to make sure that minors, high-risk and vulnerable people are not being targeted. There is, of course, the benefit that revenue stays in Alberta. 2% of all gross gaming revenue goes to the province’s First Nations communities and another 1% is ring-fenced for social responsibility initiatives. They aim to achieve a 70% channelization rate after one year and 75% by year two. Lift off Several Alberta online casinos launched on July 13, including BetRivers, BetMGM, and bet365. Others like 888 have yet to launch. At least 46 online casino operators signed up ahead of the launch, so it will be a lively and competitive market. There are plenty of Albertans who enjoy gambling, so there is plenty of opportunity for great sites to thrive. Independent comparison site Casino.ca has been keeping up with the news and applying its extensive review process to the sites in operation. Players looking for an Alberta online casino can access their curated, expert reviews. Their review team has verified each platform and tested payout speeds, games, and RTP to rank the top 15 sites. Without any more introductions, here are details of their top three online casinos in Alberta. Casino Days Casino Days takes the number one slot, earning 4.95 out of 5 and earning praise as “excellent”. The RTP is 97.1%, payouts happen in under 3 days (most withdrawals are approved in under 24 hours), and there are over 5,000 games to choose from. Their verdict is that Casino Days Alberta delivered a consistently strong experience in the areas that matter. The reviewers were impressed that deposits on credit cards could be as little as $1 and that other methods had a flat $20 minimum for deposits and withdrawals. It was the game choice that truly impressed and put them head and shoulders above rival operators. However, it was not just game numbers but variety too. The operating system was good overall, but they felt there was room for improvement, particularly with the Android app, citing stability and load-time issues. It stands out for its huge game library, low minimum deposits, fast withdrawals and overall value and convenience. BetMGM BetMGM has the highest number of active users in the top three with over 10,000 players, so they must be doing something right! Casino.ca awarded it 4.85 out of 5. It was again “excellent”. The RTP is 96%, payouts take 1-5 days, and the game library comes in a close second with over 4,500 titles. The verdict is that this site has arrived in Alberta with a pedigree few brands can match. Backed by Vegas powerhouse MGM Resorts International, it carries a name you can instantly trust. Its sportsbook is iconic across North America, and it carries that strength through to its online casino. Casino.ca says it is exactly what you would expect from a Vegas-born site, delivering top-tier slots, exclusive games, and a great choice of RNG and live-dealer tables. The app was described as delivering a smooth experience. Who doesn’t like smooth? Jackpot City Jackpot City is in third place and has an equal excellent rating of 4.85 out of 5. While its RTP at 97% and payout times of 1-3 days are ahead of BetMGM, it has a significantly smaller game library with around 1500 titles. However, despite the limited selection, it still ranks highly, and the minimum $5 deposit is a definite plus. The verdict is that this site is set to deliver amazing quality, particularly as a mobile experience. It has one of the most highly rated and regarded apps in the Canadian iGaming industry. In addition, it has a reputation as being a safe and reliable operator that features a broad selection of ‘next-gen’ trendy games from top-name, trusted software providers. It is marked down for lacking RNG table games like baccarat and poker. Reviewers love the instant withdrawals available via Interac and Visa. They genuinely think this casino could be even better and deliver more on all fronts. So those are the top three sites, but three others also earned the “excellent” accolade. Spin Casino, DraftKings and BetRivers scored 4.5 out of 5, 4.7 out of 5 and 4.6 out of 5 respectively. Spin Casino With an RTP of 98%, you might expect Spin Casino to be higher in the rankings, but payouts can take up to 7 days, and the game library is around 1,400 titles. It delivers across most key areas, but it has a few weaknesses, including lengthy withdrawal times and limited game variety outside of slots. Customer support is also poor. DraftKings Currently, this is the site most Albertans are heading to, with over 12,000 active players and huge brand recognition. RTP is 97%, and payouts take 0 to 5 days. The site offers a healthy game library with over 3,200 titles. It gets marked down for slow live chat customer support, a small selection of banking methods and non-existent telephone support. However, the reviewers loved the choice of multiple mobile casino apps on both Android and iOS. Bet Rivers Again, a very strong contender with RTP of 97%, payouts in 1-3 days and over 3,100 games. On the downside, there are very few free play games, and an overly complicated sign-up process requires ID and a selfie. The reviewers were not impressed with the small pool of banking methods either. It is an exciting time for iGamers in Alberta, and this is only the beginning. Keep an eye out for some seriously generous promotions and offers from operators as the competition heats up.