Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission has now enhanced its online catalog of products by launching its online lottery offerings for the province. Fan-favorite draw-based games such as Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, Daily Grand, Western Max, Western 6/49, and the Extra tickets are available to local players at the Crown’s officially regulated platform PlayAlberta.ca.

The lottery expansion was announced by the Crown organization a while back, but it has become available just now. The province is rather falling behind as B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, and the Atlantic Provinces have been supplying its lotto player with plenty of iLottery solutions including the nation’s favorite Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49.

Now Live

Kandice Machado, current CEO and president of the Crown corporation shared a few thoughts on the digitalization of lottery offerings sales. In her statement last Friday, she explained that with the launch of iLottery products the company strives towards bringing convenience to players and additional revenue for the benefit of the local economy.

Vice-President of the Crown agency, Steve Lautischer stated that the corporation took its time in launching the online lottery ticket products in order to eliminate all glitches from the platform. According to him, it took a little more than expected as the corporation was cooperating with its partners and the Western Canada Lottery Corporation to deliver a flawless product.

Mr. Lautischer has also stated that now players of the platform can buy several tickets for multiple different draws in advance, or just buy one ticket for the nearing upcoming draw of the game. He explained that the service is not like a subscription where players can purchase tons of tickets for the future.

However, there is still some discontent among the province as the online lottery tickets could be bad news for independent business owners as is the case for Naima Shahid. The convenience store owner explained that the digitalization will cost her many customers as many people will start purchasing tickets online, causing her massive drops in revenues. She stated that the Crown Corporation has not informed her yet, and she found out from locals.

No Official Date

Back in April two Albertans First Nations have declared the Crown’s official platform PlayAlberta.ca as unregulated and unauthorized. Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda nations have officially taken the Crown corporation into court on the basis that the government is collecting money that would have previously gone to the currently-closed gaming properties in the province and then used for local charity organizations. The date for the hearing is not yet decided.

No Financial Support

Gaming properties in Alberta have been closed down since December last year, and their non-operating status has been the reason for many local charities being financially harmed as the organizations are heavily reliant on financing. During normal circumstances as it was in 2019, the province’s casinos were able to generate around CA$168 million for local community groups and youth leagues.

Source: Villani, Mark “Effective immediately, Albertans can buy lottery tickets online”, CTV News, May 21, 2021