Gambling is the act of risking money, property or something else of value on an activity with an unknown outcome. Certain kinds of gambling are legal, because there are laws to manage it. Legal gambling includes lottery tickets, raffle tickets or scratch-and-win tickets, Sport Select tickets, casinos, racetracks, video lottery terminals (VLTs) and even bingo. In Alberta, in order to take part in legal gambling, you must be at least 18 years old. This includes purchasing lottery tickets. Certain kinds of gambling are illegal. Illegal gambling is gambling that happens outside of government regulations. For example, placing a bet with a bookie on a professional sporting event. This gambling is illegal at any age. Last Reviewed: November 2019