Canada’s online gambling boom is rewriting the rules, with provinces leading the world in turning smart regulation into economic success.
Since Canada opened its market to various online gambling platforms in 2022, the nation has become one of the leaders globally in revenue generation. The best real-money online casinos in Canada offer players a variety of perks like lightning-fast payouts, tons of promotions, an expansive library of games to choose from, weekly free spins and weekly cashback bonuses.
Canada has long had a liberal approach to online gambling but the market truly transformed in 2022 when iGaming Ontario entered the scene. By welcoming popular offshore providers, already favoured by local gamblers, Ontario regulators not only ensured player safety but also captured a share of the revenue these platforms bring.
Canadian gambling growth
Since iGaming Ontario got involved in spring of 2022, 51 gambling operators and 83 websites have entered the online gambling market, with plans to add even more. The addition of various gambling platforms has resulted in significant financial gains for the government and strengthened player safety through comprehensive regulations. In the past year, Ontario saw a record $2.4 billion in online gambling revenue.
According to a market performance report shared by Gaming Ontario for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the capital generated $726 million in the first quarter and $738 million in the second, which is a 30% year-over-year increase. Table games, P2P bingo, live dealer games and slots contributed 75% of the total generated revenue, while P2P poker only accounted for 2.4%. With these record numbers, Ontario remains the dominant player in Canada’s online gambling market.
While other provinces may not offer the same degree of choice for their gamblers, they still experience the growing demand for online gambling platforms. Many provinces like Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta have government-run sites like Loto-Quebec, Play Alberta and Play Now (in British Columbia). Additionally in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is live for online gamblers to participate in.
Other provinces like Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have a large pool of online players who participate in online gambling activities; however, as of now, they do not have a regulated online gambling market. Having said that, there are no explicit laws in these provinces that forbid Canadian gamblers from participating in licensed offshore casinos.
While these provinces may not have generated as much revenue as Ontario, they have still contributed significant figures to the nation’s overall economy. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, Loto-Quebec generated $403.9 million in revenue, a $13 million dollar increase from the previous year.
In Alberta, Play Alberta brought in a reported $179 million in earnings, while an additional $872.7 million was generated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Furthermore, PlayNow in British Columbia experienced a 7% increase from the previous fiscal year and brought in $476 million in gambling revenue. The only province in Canada to experience a decline in online gambling revenue was Manitoba, which fell from $75.4 million in 2022/2023 to $74.9 million in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
Tech advancements fuel growth
There are several factors that are driving the nation’s impressive growth in the online gambling industry. For one, accessibility has dramatically increased. The many advancements in mobile and tablet technology the world has recently experienced enable players to access online casino providers from anywhere. Additionally, a younger, tech-savvy generation of Canadian gamblers has emerged. These gamblers tend to prefer gambling online as opposed to playing at traditional land-based casinos.
What’s more, the massive variety of games that online casinos offer players is far more expansive than land-based casinos, thus appealing to broader audiences with various game preferences. Slots tend to be the biggest money makers in Canada’s online gambling scene, with games like Mega Moolah and Book of Ra being among the most popular online slot games.
Recent advancements in online casinos are driving market growth. Many gambling providers are adopting the latest technologies to enhance player safety with more secure, transparent and fair gaming. AI and machine learning are creating personalized experiences, while a mobile-first approach ensures compatibility with the growing demand for mobile gaming on iOS and Android apps.
Crypto revolutionizes iGaming
The adoption of crypto and blockchain technology enhances a player’s gambling experience by safeguarding sensitive data, such as personal and financial information. It also ensures provably fair games, with every win, loss and bet transparently recorded on a public ledger. These factors contribute to blockchain’s growing popularity in the global iGaming industry.
In addition to being a payment method, cryptocurrency is gaining popularity at crypto casinos, allowing many offshore platforms to offer fewer restrictions and benefits like instant payouts. While still a niche market, crypto gambling is poised to become a significant part of Canada’s iGaming landscape in the near future.
The Canadian online gambling market is only expected to keep on growing. Projections for 2025 suggest the industry could generate $4.19 billion in gambling revenue. This growth provides many economic benefits to various Canadian provinces. With the impressive revenue generated by Canada’s online gambling market, large sums can be invested in other sectors like healthcare and improved infrastructure.
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