North America, or Canada, has seen its iGaming market go from strength to strength since Ontario launched the first open, regulated iGaming market on April 4, 2022. During its first year, the sector generated $1.4 billion in gross gaming revenue for Canada before smashing that for the fiscal year 2023/2024, increasing by a massive 75% to $2.2 billion.
And, you guessed it, the 2024/2025 fiscal year was another period of highs, seeing Ontario finish the financial period with a total of $3.2 billion in total gaming revenue. All data taken from iGaming Ontario official reports.
Canadians are spending big money, with the iGaming Ontario Q3 2024/2025 figures showing that wagers reached $22.7 billion, an increase of 22% compared to the previous quarter and 32% compared to Q3 of the previous fiscal year. Online casino games accounted for $18.9 billion, or 83% of wagers.
Those games included:
- Slots
- Live and computer-based table games
- Peer-to-peer bingo
Below, we’ll explore what makes the market so unique and why it’s thriving.
Canada’s iGaming Market and Why It’s Advancing So Fast
Ontario’s incredible gross gaming revenue increase of 32% over the previous years and total wagers of $82.7 show just how well the market is performing.
Those numbers do cover sports betting, but casino games dominate the iGaming sector, generating $2.40 billion in revenue, an increase of 36% year-over-year. Most of that came from slots and table games. The most recent data comes from iGaming Ontario’s October 2025 report, which states that casino games still lead with:
- 85% of the market share.
- Generated $7,884 million in total wagers.
- Accumulated a total Non-Adjusted Gross Gaming Revenue of $303.8 million.
Considering these numbers are for one month, not the entire fiscal year, it’ll be interesting to see the final report when the 2025/2026 period ends.
And it’s not just money. Ontario now hosts over 84 regulated sites across 49 operators, with active online accounts for October 2025 being 1.287 thousand.
Why the Market Is Moving so Fast
Canadians have always been gamblers, with about 60% of adults reporting gambling regularly (iGaming Business).
Even before regulation, an estimated 19 million Canadians had offshore gambling accounts (iGaming Business). The legal market’s launch effectively tackled the issue by providing a safer, regulated alternative. And it worked. Surveys show around 84–85% of Ontario players now use licensed sites (iGaming Business).
Technology and pandemic-driven behavior shifts also led to accelerated adoption rates. During COVID-19, many turned to online platforms for casino games and betting, and in 2022, when the market opened, it was still around that COVID-19 era.
Progressive regulation, for example, Canada’s federal legalization of single-event sports wagering (Bill C-218 in 2021) and Ontario’s open-market license framework, led to major international operators entering the market.
Combine those, and it’s easy to see why Canada’s iGaming market is putting in such strong performances.
Canada’s Online Gambling Market Compared to the Rest of the US
By absolute size, Canada’s online gambling market is still smaller than the US. That said, it is growing faster on a percentage basis. In 2024, the US commercial gaming industry set a record of $72 billion in total revenue (iGaming Business). That’s many billions more than Canada, but the revenue is coming from more states:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- West Virginia
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
Canada only has Ontario, and that’s still outperforming New Jersey, the US’s top-performing state, which only generated iGaming revenue of $1.88 billion in 2025 by the end of August.
The rest of Canada’s provinces have only just begun venturing into iGaming regulation.
The structure of US regulation differs. In the US, iGaming is state-by-state under laws like the 2011 ‘New Jersey model.’ In Canada, the Criminal Code permits provinces and territories to authorize gambling, so each province has its own regime.
What Makes Canada’s Online Casino Market So Unique?
Most provinces operate only a single site run by the lottery corporation. Ontario broke the tradition, licensing dozens of private operators in a competitive market. This duality is unique. One region has a lively multi-operator marketplace, such as Ontario, with its 50+ iGaming platforms and 85 live brands, compared to other provinces with monopoly platforms.
The Canadian market also combines North American and international influences. Major global casino brands launched Canadian editions in Ontario, bringing marketing and technology from the US/Europe (Sigma World). They’re some of the best in Canada. Still, the regulatory framework has a Canadian twist. All platforms must implement strict consumer protections that include:
- Self-exclusion software
- Deposit limits
- Anti-money-laundering programs
Credit and debit cards are also banned for gambling deposits in most provinces. Ontario and Quebec allow certain e-wallet methods, which have led players to use bank transfers or prepaid services. You don’t really see that in the US.
The Online Gambling Habits of Canadians?
An estimated 19.3 million Canadians have gambled online, and around 10.3% of adults (about 3.2 million) play regularly at online casinos (Read Write). When Canadians gamble online, they overwhelmingly favor casinos and lotteries. A
For online casino players, slots always win (perhaps literally), with the same Read Write data stating 78% of online casino gamblers play slot games, followed by blackjack (45%) and roulette (38%). Table games like baccarat and poker aren’t as popular.
Industry data also tells us that over half of Canadian online gamblers use smartphones or tablets, with 55% of women preferring to play on their mobile. That reflects Canada’s high smartphone penetration and the convenience of 24/7 access.
Demographically, Canadian gamblers tend to be middle-aged. The majority of online players are 30–50 years old (Read Write). Younger adults are aged between 18 and 34, with around 45% admitting they’ve never gambled online before.
Canada’s online casino market is unique because it’s open, regulated, and constantly improving. Compared to the US, it’s far less restricted, and it’s likely we’ll see more Canadian provinces open iGaming markets a lot faster than US states.