Calgary Sports Betting: Top Picks for 2025

Curious about Calgary sports betting? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will get you up to date on the current Calgary sports betting laws, tell you about the best sportsbooks in Calgary, and more.

Before we dive into the legality of sports betting in Calgary and the best betting sites in Canada that are available in Calgary, here’s an overview of the market so you can see where things stand now. 

• Calgary Sports Betting Launch Date: September 2021
• Legal Betting Age: 18
• Online Sports Betting: Legal, remote registration allowed
• Sports Betting Apps: Yes
• Retail Sports Betting: Available at select lottery terminals with Sport Select.
• Online Casinos: PlayAlberta and offshore casinos available
• College Sports Betting: Legal
• Esports Betting: Legal
• Politics Betting: Legal

Sports betting is legal in Canada since Parliament passed Bill C-218 in June 2021. [1] You can now bet on sports legally in every province, including Alberta. The only major differences between provinces is whether privately-owned sportsbooks are also allowed. Ontario is the only province with privately-owned sportsbooks, but this could change soon. The Alberta sports betting market could have privately-owned betting sites as soon as 2026. 

Is sports betting legal in Calgary?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Calgary. Bill C-218 removed the criminal penalty for betting on sports in Canada. Since Parliament passed that bill, Calgary residents have been able to bet on sports legally. The government of Alberta began offering legal sports betting to Calgary bettors in September 2021, when it launched its PlayAlberta platform.

Who Regulates Sports Betting in Calgary?

All sports betting in Calgary is regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) under the authority of the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act. [2]

Offline betting

Alberta has a very limited offline betting market. There are no dedicated retail sportsbooks. However, select lottery locations offer sports betting through the Western Canada Lottery Corporation’s (WCLC) Sport Select platform. Outside of sports betting, there are many offline betting options in Alberta. Calgary alone has seven casinos and Alberta is home to four racetracks, including the iconic Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Now that we have gone over the legality of sports betting in Calgary, let’s take a look at the top 10 Calgary sports betting sites. The table below covers all the top sportsbook bonuses, payment methods, and everything else you need to know about our favourite sites.

While Calgary is known to much of Canada for its rodeo and Wild Western appeal, the history of sports betting in the city is not that much different than its history in the rest of the country.

Canada did not regulate gambling at all until 1892—two years before Calgary was incorporated as a city—when the country established its first Criminal Code. This law prohibited all gambling, except horse racing.

Over the years, the Criminal Code was amended and chipped away at to allow for pari mutuel horse racing betting and more lax charitable gambling. The biggest update came in the 1960s through the 1980s, when several lottery corporations were established. This movement culminated in 1985, when Canada legalised casino gambling.

However, Cash Casino, the first casino in Calgary was actually able to open five years earlier because it operated as a private casino operating under different rules.

Legal sports betting in Canada came over three decades later, when Parliament passed Bill C-218 in 2021.

Calgary is Canada’s third biggest city, but it arguably has the nation’s best sporting culture. The city is home to three top-level professional sports teams and over a dozen minor sports teams. It also has a thriving rodeo culture and one of the best places for winter sports in Canada.

Calgary Stampeders

The Stampeders are the oldest team in Calgary and one of the oldest in all of western Canada. The team was founded in 1945 and played in the very first CFL season back in 1958. Since then, the Stampeders have won the Grey Cup eight times.

Calgary Flames

In 1980, the Atlanta Flames needed a new home. Calgary welcomed them with open arms. The Flames were relocated across the border and have been in Calgary ever since. They have won two President’s Trophy titles and a sole Stanley Cup.

Cavalry FC

Founded in 2018, Cavalry FC is the newest top-level professional sports team in Calgary. It’s also already one of the most successful. The Cavs have won the Canadian Premier League one time and have finished runner-up twice. They also have lifted the CPL Shield on two occasions. 

There are no retail sportsbooks in Calgary. However, you can bet on sports in person at select WCLC locations using the lottery’s Sport Select platform. Sport Select is more limited than other Calgary sportsbooks, but you can still place basic wagers on most major sports.

[1]. https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/43-2/c-218 29 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2025.

[2]. https://www.law-faqs.org/alberta-faqs/recreational-activities/gambling/ Retrieved 20 June 2025.