More than 85% of Ontario iGaming players are playing via legal operators, a new study has revealed.
Marking the second anniversary of the Canadian province’s iGaming market, this IPSOS study released by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario found that 86% of players were using legal gaming channels.
Doug Downey, Ontario’s Attorney General, said: “Another pivotal milestone in our ongoing work to provide players and businesses with a strong, competitive and safer online gaming environment that meets consumer expectations.”
Ontario authorized regulated iGaming and sports betting in April 2022. In its most recent revenue report, iGaming Ontario said total revenue for Q3 2023-24 hit CA$685 million.
This equated to a 44% year-to-year increase from the previous year’s $457m total.
Casinos Still Dominate Ontario iGaming Scene
Accounting for 82% of wagers, the casino category remains the largest segment of online gambling in the province.
Blackjack was the most popular game, making up 25% of all wagers. This included live and computer-based versions of the game.
Furthermore, Ontario’s online sports betting market is in the top five regions for total wagers across North America, with basketball the most bet-on sport.
Peer-to-peer poker accounted for CA$1.5bn in stakes this year, the smallest gaming segment for operators.
But the five operators “have combined to make Ontario the largest ring-fenced online poker market by gaming revenue in North America, which is testament to the strong interest Ontarians have in the game.”
iGaming Ontario’s board chair, Heidi Reinhart, said: “When talking about Ontario’s iGaming market, the numbers tell us a lot, but what I’m most proud of are the countless ways that our government partners, operators, responsible gambling experts, players and employees have worked together to help us create a world-class market that is Ontario-made for Ontarians.”
With more and more people engaging in sports betting across North America, Ontario is at the forefront of the industry’s recent growth.