Is sports betting legal in Ontario and Alberta? The rules in 2026

Legal, when it is run by your province

In Canada, the Criminal Code lets each provincial government conduct and manage gaming in its province, under its own laws (section 207).

Until 2021, a sports bet had to combine several games. Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, received royal assent on 29 June 2021 and came into force on 27 August 2021: provinces may now offer a bet on a single game. Horse racing stays excluded from that change.

Ontario: AGCO and iGaming Ontario

Ontario's regulated online market opened on 4 April 2022. Two bodies share the work:

• The AGCO is the regulator: it sets the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming and registers the operators.
• iGaming Ontario conducts and manages online gaming with private operators. It has been an independent provincial agency since 12 May 2025.

To bet online, you must be 19 or older and physically in Ontario.

OLG, the provincial lottery corporation, also takes sports bets: online with PROLINE+ (19 and older), and in store with PROLINE at its lottery retailers, where the minimum age is 18.

Alberta: AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation

Alberta's regulated competitive market officially launched on 13 July 2026, with 22 registered sites approved at launch, according to the Alberta iGaming Corporation.

• The AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) is the regulator and registers the operators.
• The Alberta iGaming Corporation conducts and manages the commercial market and handles public complaints.

To bet online in Alberta, you must be 18 or older.

How to check that a site is licensed

1. In Ontario, look for the site in iGaming Ontario's directory of regulated sites. On 1 September 2026, it listed 49 operators and 84 websites. Regulated sites display the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos.
2. In Alberta, look for it in the Alberta iGaming Corporation's list of registered sites. In the Corporation's words, an operator that does not appear in its directory is not regulated.
3. If the site is not on the list, do not open an account.

💡 Every sportsbook on OufBet is shown only in the province where it is licensed.

Why unregulated sites are a bad bet

iGaming Ontario warns that on an unregulated site there is no guarantee your deposits are stored securely, payouts may be delayed or never made, and your personal information may be exposed. The AGCO adds that those sites do not offer the safer gambling tools of the regulated market.

iGaming Ontario has no legal relationship with unregulated operators and does not resolve disputes with them. On a regulated site, you complain to the operator first, then you can turn to iGaming Ontario, which cannot itself settle bets, refund wagers or award compensation.

Why you never see a bonus in a betting ad in Ontario

Since 28 February 2024, active or retired athletes may not appear in Ontario's online gaming ads, except to promote responsible gambling. The ads may not use celebrities, influencers or cartoons likely to appeal to minors either.

Bonuses and credits may not be advertised publicly (AGCO Standard 2.05): you only see them on the operator's own site or app, or in messages you agreed to receive. That is why OufBet compares sportsbooks on what lasts: prices, payout and protection.

How to choose your sportsbook →

Bet responsibly

Betting is paid entertainment, for adults only (19 and over in Ontario, 18 and over in Alberta), never a way to make money. Set a budget before you start and stick to it, whatever happens.

💡 Free help, 24/7: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 in Ontario, Addiction Helpline 1-866-332-2322 in Alberta.