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Loraine Couturier, Casino.ca contributor, on what Alberta regulating online casinos in the province means for players.
What is your experience in the Canadian iGaming industry?
I’ve been researching and writing in the Canadian iGaming industry for the past 6 years. I started out in 2019 reviewing slots, and in 2020, the market exploded so I expanded my writing to include more. I did online casino reviews and looked through all the relevant information to ensure sites were running legitimately. I also wrote web content directly for online casinos operating in the Canadian sector, including PlayOJO, LeoVegas, and Unibet.
I have watched the industry change a lot throughout the years, keeping up with the latest news, changes in laws, and additions, like the onset of provinces being regulated. It has always been my mission to give players an honest review of Canadian online casinos, steering them in the right direction to play only at reputable sites that are both fair and safe.
What is your current role, and how does it ensure Canadian players are safe?
I research sites and go through the full process of signing up, making a deposit, playing games, speaking with customer support, and withdrawing winnings. I get in touch with customer support to see how responsive they are and look through the terms and conditions with a fine-tooth comb.
Going through the site in detail allows me to determine whether a player’s information is safe and that it’s fair with games that pay out as advertised. In regulated markets like Alberta, this makes my job easier. I know that if an Alberta online casino is available to sign up for, it’s already been vetted.
I don’t have to look at whether reputable third-party regulators are checking to ensure the RNG is functioning properly or that there are shady practices when it comes to withdrawals. If they’re licensed through AiGC, I know they offer RSG tools and only partner with legit game providers.
Now that Alberta’s commercial iGaming market is officially open, private online casinos can operate in the province. The iGaming Alberta Act has taken the risk away, as there are no longer shady sites operating in the grey area. The AiGC manages commercial contracts while the AGLC ensures that sites operating in Alberta comply with the regulations put in place.
How will this influence the way players experience online casinos in Alberta now?
Before, you had a lot of different offline sites that may have been conducting shady practices. The only safe, legit option was the one legal platform operated by the provincial government. The monopoly is no more, as today, over 30 global online casinos have received their license to operate in Alberta.
This means you can play on the big sites like DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Online Casino, BallyBet, etc. You get a localized experience as they’ve curated their sites to appeal to Alberta players, whether you’re into casino play or sports betting.
Does this improve financial security?
Yes, absolutely. Not only does the site have to comply with safe banking practices, but there’s also no more shady business surrounding withdrawals. A lot of the offshore sites could weasel their way out of paying out winnings through confusing terms and conditions. If an offshore casino didn’t pay out, there were no legal ramifications.
With licensed casinos in Alberta, they have to safeguard your funds, and your account balance is protected under Alberta law. If there’s an issue with a payout, you can contact AGLC to resolve it, as it has a consumer protection avenue for players.
Does this improve player safety in general?
Yes, because a licensed Alberta casino must get each player to go through the KYC (know-your-customer) process, this prevents the risk of identity theft, money laundering, and underage players from signing up. Financial information is protected under mandatory security measures like SSL encryption, acting like a fortress, as they’re the same sophisticated technology as online banks use.
What kind of responsible gambling support is obligatory for a licensed Alberta casino?
The province of Alberta takes responsible gambling seriously because although they want to benefit from the money that online gambling brings into the province, they also want to protect players. When Alberta regulated online gambling in the province, they made sure sites are meeting the minimum tools to protect players from gambling addiction. In addition, the province has centralized self-exclusion where you can ban yourself from all platforms at the same time.
Players have a maximum single betting limit of $20,000, and the AGLC is responsible for approving any sign-up bonuses a site has. This is in an effort to eradicate unfair terms that may be connected to a bonus, which may cause players to chase wins to meet high wagering requirements.
Conclusion:
Alberta players are getting far more benefits by having the province regulated. Top casinos that offer exciting games and fun engagement have been approved, with more to come. The sites are trustworthy and offer fair terms and conditions with no surprises. They keep your personal and financial information safe with full transparency so you know exactly what you’re getting. The best part is that if you do have an issue with a site, especially relating to withdrawals, you’re protected and can always get in touch with AGLC to ensure you get a payout that is due to you.
