Alberta is getting in on the Super Bowl fun.
For the first time ever, PlayAlberta.ca and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis are offering betting markets for the NFL’s season finale, marking a new era for Alberta sports betting.
Moneyline, point spreads, over/under and total odds are all now live for bettors to wager on through Alberta’s only regulated gambling website, a first for the province.
“When single-event sports wagering arrived on PlayAlberta.ca last fall, sports fans were given their own opportunity to ensure that money played in Alberta, stays in Alberta while supporting programs and services that people rely on every day,” said Kandice Machado, AGLC’s president and chief executive officer, in a press release.
As for a launch of private operators, the province is still looking for two potential partners. Any Alberta launch isn’t expected until after the Ontario opening on April 4.
Los Angeles Rams favoured on home turf
As of Tuesday afternoon, the website has the Los Angeles Rams (-4.5) pegged as the favourites over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Consider the Rams head in with a distinct advantage by hosting the big game on their home turf of SoFi Stadium.
Here are how some of the other key markets are shaking down thus far for PlayAlberta:
- Moneyline (match): Cincinnati (2.35 European odds, +135 American), LA (1.57, -175)
- Over/Under (match): Over 48.5 (1.95, -105), Under 48.5 (1.85, -117)
Albertans eager to watch, bet on Super Bowl
Albertans love their pigskin.
That is no secret to anyone who has been paying attention to the football market out west.
So perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many of the province’s bettors seem to be right on top of their wagers.
PlayAlberta reports the Rams enter the Super Bowl as the second-most popular futures bet to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Meanwhile, the Bengals are the seventh most popular team to win it all.
Cincy entered the season with 100–1 odds. Some forgiveness then should be given to those who overlooked the underdog squad at the season’s start.
One bettor even parlayed the Bengals winning the Super Bowl with the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, according to PlayAlberta. The odds for that mid-October bet were 2400-to-1.
PlayAlberta.ca offering additional markets
Beyond the moneyline, spread and over/under bets, PlayAlberta is also offering some other intriguing markets as well.
Many of these could appeal to Albertans who may be new to the betting world and want to make a simple yes/no wager.
Some of the following markets would be a great place to start for that:
- Will there be a missed field goal (match): Yes (2.10, +110), No (1.70, -142)
- Will there be a touchdown? (1st quarter): Yes (1.31, -322), No (3.40, +240)
- Will there be a field goal (1st quarter): Yes (2.05, +104), No (1.76? -131)
- Odd/Even Total Points (match): Even (2.10, +110), Odd (1.70, -142)
Super LVI memorable year for Canadian betting
Super Bowl LVI has been a historic one for Canadian betting.
Of course, much of that has to do with single-event betting becoming legal in Canada.
But beyond that provincial operators such as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation have also been making big moves. OLG recently signed a five-year deal to be the NFL’s official sportsbook partner in Ontario.
The Corporation’s sportsbook, dubbed Proline Plus, also offers a diverse Super Bowl betting experience that includes game props, player props, point spreads, over/unders and more.
Ideally one would think this would be to the level that PlayAlberta is striving for.
Should this year’s experience with the Super Bowl go over well, then perhaps betting futures for next season will open up in the weeks following the game.
PlayAlberta, AGLC remains committed to helping Albertans through its operations
All of that should spell good news for the province.
Alberta’s gaming industry is carefully regulated so that all profits are reinvested into its local economy.
In 2020-21, that equalled more than $773 million in net gaming income, according to PlayAlberta.
The money was given to the General Revenue Fund, a program dedicated to supporting programs and services Albertans rely on every day.
PlayAlberta betting is available to players 18 and older.
