New to betting? Don’t worry, becoming a bettor in Alberta is simple! Although it may be daunting, we can help ease the transition for those looking to join the betting scene.
To begin betting in Alberta, follow these steps:
- Registering: To begin betting in Alberta, you’ll need to register for a betting site! Our guide can direct to you bookmakers that may interest in you. But to start, you’ll need to register an account. This includes creating a profile on your selected online bookmaker.
- Banking: You’ll need to deposit and withdraw funds to and from your account. When registering for a site, learn about the different banking methods and how they can benefit you as a player.
- Familiarity: Becoming familiar with the operator you are using is another way to start betting! Learning where to place bets, how to find specific markets, contact customer service and everything involving the site will help you become a savvy bettor.
Popular Sports to bet on Alberta
Alberta is rooted in sports and these are some of the most popular sports to bet on in the province!
Hockey – The sport of hockey dominates the province of Alberta. From the Calgary Flames to Edmonton Oilers, these two teams are wildly popular among bettors in Alberta. Away from the NHL, you will also see Albertans hammer odds on Major Junior hockey, especially the WHL! All hockey markets are in play but the NHL and Major Junior dominate. There is extra love for tournaments such as the Olympics or World Juniors, also.
American Football – Despite the province not housing a franchise, the NFL and CFL are huge markets! NFL gets love throughout the season, with Albertans showing favoritism towards the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders are popular picks among bettors.
Basketball – The Toronto Raptors (and NBA action in general) are watched favorably in Edmonton. The province has seen a spike in interest ever since the Raptors won their first NBA championship and that support has not wavered. Now, professional basketball continues to be a hot commodity for bettors in Alberta.
Soccer – Considered the global game, it makes sense that soccer has supporters in the province. Calvary FC (Calgary) are the lone team in Alberta (CPL) but bettors support all professional leagues, include the EPL and MLS! Every major professional soccer league will be represented thanks to Alberta’s diverse culture. Professional leagues in Germany, France and other European countries receive extra attention thanks to Alberta’s history.
Baseball – Canada has deep roots in professional baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays are Canada’s team. With Alberta being close to states such as Washington, the Seattle Mariners receive love as well! As expected, the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox also have support in the province of Alberta. Bettors in Alberta tend to focus on MLB betting for professional baseball but other leagues and tournaments (such as the World Baseball Classic) garner special attention every time they roll around.
Most Popular Betting Markets
On top of popular sports, you need popular betting markets! These are the most popular betting markets wagered on in Alberta sports betting:
💰 Moneyline – The most straightforward betting market, betting on the Moneyline means you are selecting a team to win straight up. Simply put, if you back a team to win and they win the game, then you win the bet! Moneyline betting is a popular pick among every type of bettor, from newbies to vets.
💰 Spread – The spread is used to balance two teams. Basically, the spread takes away points from the favourite and awards them to the underdog. If the Flames are listed at –1.5, they would need to win by 2 (or more) goals to win the bet! Meanwhile, the underdog in this case at +1.5 would need to win the game outright or lose by 1 goal to win the bet. Spread betting is popular in all professional sports markets.
💰 Totals – Known as the over/under, totals betting is usually reserved for the number of points scored in a game. In an NBA game, we could see an o/u of 212.5. If you see this line, you are betting on if there will be 213+ points scored, or 212 (or fewer) points scored in the game. Totals betting is a favourite among NBA and NFL bettors.
💰 Props - Proposition bets are wagered not directly tied to the outcome of the game. This could include total shots from a player in hockey to number of team free throws (o/u) in a basketball game. The Super Bowl is notorious for Prop bets, as you can wager on interesting markets. Some prop bets can include stats but also which commercial will be shown first between two companies! It’s a captivating market with loads of betting potential.
💰 Parlays – If you’re a bettor, chances are you’ve heard of parlay betting! Parlay wagers are the combination of multiple bets (legs) into a single wager. Parlays can range from 3-legs to as many bets allowed by the bookmaker. The key is that parlay betting combines multiple bets into a SINGLE wager. Meaning if you have 8-bets in a parlay, all 8 need to win in order for you to win your bet. Parlay betting can offer insane profits but with increased risk.
💰 Futures – As it sounds, Futures betting is a wager on an event that will not happen immediately. The most common futures bet includes the likes of the championship winner of your favourite sport, like Stanley Cup Champion or World Series Champion. These bets are typically made at the start of the season as it provides better odds than later in the year.
💰 In-Play – Also known as live betting, In-Play betting is when bets are placed AFTER play has begun. Once the ball/puck is in play, that’s when live betting can begin! Bettors love this market because there is strategy in betting as the game unfolds. Live betting also provides reflecting odds directly correlated to how the game is being played, like score and momentum etc.
Other Betting Markets
ESports: eSports are one of the biggest markets in betting! Professional eSports have a huge following and are actively watched. Some of the bigger games to wager on include the Call of Duty League, as well as League of Legends. Any legitimate sportsbook will offer eSports and betting sites in Alberta definitely know this!
Politics: Politics are a big market in betting! Experienced bettors know all too well how popular this market can be. From the next United States president to other elections around the globe, bettors may look at this market as another opportunity!
Specials: Similar to the Politics section, Specials are a type of bet that may interest bettors! These markets could include winners at the Grammys to the next spokesperson for a certain brand! It’s interesting to see what bookmakers can come up with as these specials bets truly are special.
Virtual: Virtual betting isn’t exactly eSports betting. Virtual betting is based off an AI algorithm to determine outcomes for games. Some virtual sports include the ever so popular horse racing but you’ll also find virtual sports for American Football, Soccer, Basketball, Hockey and more! This is a great way to bet on your favourite sports that may be out of season.
Can You Bet on University Sports in Alberta?
Despite being a focal point on campus, USports isn’t as prominent as NCAA athletics. This means finding odds on anything related to the Calgary Dinos or Alberta Golden Bears would be quite challenging.