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MyBettingSites Canada Alberta novelty betting rules - What players can and can't bet on
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Alberta novelty betting rules - What players can and can't bet on

As Alberta moves towards a licensed private betting market, the novelty markets available to players are set to change. While offshore sites previously offered a wider range of entertainment and even based categories, AGLC guidelines and requirements will determine which markets licensed operators will be able to list and which higher risk categories will remain off limits.
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Written by Benjamin Van Huffel Editor-In-Chief
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

What Players Can and Can’t Bet On

For Albertan players interested in novelty bets, the AGLC has released guidelines outlining which markets may be offered and which ones are prohibited when the private iGaming market launches in July.

Novely bets are wagers placed on non-sporting events, such as the winner of Eurovision or the outcome of reality tv shows like Survivor. These markets offer users the ability to wager on entertainment and cultural categories outside of traditional sports betting.

While players may see more entertainment betting options than they had through PlayAlberta, some of the novelty markets previously available through offshore betting sites will no longer be offered on newly licensed betting sites in Alberta. 

The following serves to give Alberta bettors a better idea of which novelty markets they can expect to see, as well as which higher risk markets will remain off-limits.

Which Novelty Bets Could Be Allowed?

Want to bet on which country will win the next Eurovision contest or who will win Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards? Novelty markets are offered on various betting sites to give players the ability to do just that. 

The following are examples of novelty markets that do not appear under the restricted categories outlined by the AGLC's standards and requirements:

  • Award Ceremonies
  • Competitions
  • Reality Television Outcomes
  • Michelin Guide Recipients
  • Celebrity Breakups
  • Population Markets
  • Prize Winners

Which Betting Markets Are Restricted in Alberta?

While Alberta bettors may still see a range of novelty markets on licensed betting sites, the AGLC has also made it clear that certain categories will be prohibited in the province.

Players in Alberta should stay away from the following markets, as they are not approved to be offered in the province:

  • Financial Markets (Stocks, bonds, currencies, real property)
  • Lottery Outcomes
  • Political Markets (Elections, by-elections, leadership contests)
  • Animal Fighting or Cruelty
  • Markets which expose players to losses greater than the amount wagered on
  • Markets With Participating Minors (Events must require all participants to be 18 years or older)