Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has recently been made aware of fraudulent apps and social media ads impersonating casinos and racing entertainment centres (RECs) in the province. These deceptive ads imply that the province’s land-based venues have added online gambling to their operations.
None of Alberta’s 29 casinos or racing entertainment centres are licensed to offer online gaming. Using these apps or accessing these social media ads may put a user’s personal information at risk.
Along with inauthentic ads for land-based gaming venues, there has been an increase in counterfeit applications for PlayAlberta.ca on both the Apple and Android app stores. PlayAlberta.ca is the province’s only legal gambling website and is available on desktop, tablet and smartphone browsers.
Users should be vigilant when examining ads online or in an app store and look for signs, such as:
- Ads use the correct, official name of the venue
- Being asked to share financial information when claiming a prize won on social media
- Grammatical and common spelling errors
AGLC continues to work with Alberta’s casino and racing entertainment centre operators to ensure that both the in-person and online safety of all patrons is of the highest priority.
Related information
Find an Alberta casino or REC
Report a fake account
Media inquiries
media@aglc.ca
587-596-5351