By Sadie Smith
October 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
When Ontario took the plunge and launched its regulated commercial gambling market, it had high hopes that it would be a success. However, what has happened in the province has exceeded the most ambitious expectations both in terms of revenue generated and moving people away from offshore operators. While Ontario was Canada’s lone wolf in how it chose to go about regulation, it has been watched carefully by lawmakers and industry lobbyists throughout the country. Now, with Alberta preparing to launch its regulated market later this year or in early 2026, it could be seen as a pack leader.
We have to wonder why Canada’s igaming industry has been so wildly successful. Looking at Ontario alone, the Gross Gambling Revenue for the 2024 / 2025 period was US$2.3 billion – a third up on the previous year. The casino and casino games market for the entire country is expected to reach US$6.71 billion this year. Those are eye-wateringly large sums of money. We sat down with Casino.org’s expert, Martin Backhouse, to try to unpick why the industry is so successful there.
Is there something special about the Canadian iGaming market?
Martin Backhouse
“There is no denying the fact that the Canadian gaming market is unique and exciting. Given the size of the population, Canada’s gambling industry is impressive. Sixty percent of Canadians say they have spent money recently on gambling, and more than a third of the population as a whole play casino games. Unlike in the States, gambling is legal everywhere, and it is part of the cultural makeup of the country.”
Was Covid19 the event that allowed the online gambling industry to grow rapidly?
“Even with a deeply rooted connection to gambling, it is still surprising just how popular online casinos are, and the sector has been experiencing significant growth. It is down to a mix of factors, including changing customer preferences, access to technology, and the fact that the games are fun and easily accessible. There is no doubt that Covid-19 played its part, introducing people who were denied the chance to play in person to online options. Once they found how great the sites were, there was no turning back.
What is driving the success of the market?
“There are so many factors driving the success that it would be impossible to pinpoint just one. However, the availability of apps and mobile gaming sites has made it possible for people to ‘play on the go’. The whole market is safe and secure due to strict regulations and advanced encryption technology. Players can feel confident that their financial and personal data is not at risk, and this gives them the confidence to dabble in their favourite pastime.”
Play alongside live players against a human dealer in real time.
“It is a case of success breeds success. As the developers know that Canadians are keen online players, they invest in their platforms to make them as attractive as possible. One key trend is the availability and popularity of live dealer games. Immersive and interactive, they take players directly to the casino floor without needing any additional technology or peripherals. They play alongside live players against a human dealer in real time. They deliver the convenience of online gambling with the social aspect of being in a land-based casino.”
“However, it is not just the big established casinos that are driving the success; there are always new sites and apps launching, offering players even more choice. Casino.org ranks the best new online casinos in Canada to give exciting opportunities to our readers. Fresh casino sites offer the opportunity to try out the latest online games, new payment methods, and more.”
Isn’t it risky for players to try out new sites?
Why not just stick to the big, established brands?
“Well, without blowing our own trumpet too much, the benefit of using an online review site is that we are all about removing the risks. We do the hard work behind the scenes to ensure that we only recommend great sites. We are totally independent and are not paid to promote one website over another. We use a data-driven approach to rank and rate sites. That might sound a little dry, but it means we compare “apples with apples”. As we all enjoy playing on the sites too, we also bring subjective commentary to our reviews.”
“Once we have tried out sites and are confident that they are up to scratch, we curate a list of the best ones. Players can often claim more lucrative bonuses than they would find at established sites. New sites give players a chance to try out new casino slots from top developers and future rising stars. The latest sites and apps often deploy fresh technology and are more cutting-edge than legacy brands. Because the developers know that Canadians are keen gamblers, they invest in producing a superior gaming experience for the market.”
Are there any other factors driving the growth
Cryptocurrencies are now a part of the equation.
“We cannot ignore cryptocurrencies in the equation. So many people have invested in crypto and enjoyed watching their wallets go up (and suffered the agony of them going down, too). However, there are still limited outlets for using cryptocurrency, but many new online casinos accept it as a payment option. There is an increasing number of people using their crypto wallets to fund their favourite entertainment.
What can we expect next?
If Alberta succeeds, the sky is the limit for players and operators alike.
“Everyone is watching to see what happens in Alberta. Originally, it had been hoped that the commercial market would launch rapidly. At one point, it was supposed to be live before last Christmas. However, the province has realized that it is better to move forward slowly and steadily. The bill is making its way through the legislative process, and then the regulators will set up the Alberta iGaming Corporation. Things have been more complicated in Alberta than they were in Ontario, because there is an existing legal market in the form of PlayAlberta in place. What they want to do is tackle the grey market without cannibalising the existing government-run PlayAlberta site. If Alberta succeeds, the sky is the limit for players and operators alike. Many people are speculating that other provinces will then follow suit, but they are all holding their cards close to their chest for now.”
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