By Jeannie Løjstrup
June 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario’s online gambling industry enjoyed a record-breaking end to 2024, with Q3’s online casino spend showing a 38% year-over-year increase, amounting to $18.9 billion. This money was taken in during the 3 months leading up to December 31st, and puts the province in a healthy position for 2025.
Since April 2022, consumers have been able to play online poker in Canada with operators who have entered into an agreement with iGaming Ontario and registered with the AGCO. Consumers can also enjoy a variety of casino games with licensed and offshore betting sites, but only revenue taken by Canadian operators is counted towards the revenue figures cited.
Following a strong finish to 2024, 2025 started in a similar fashion, with online gambling enjoying a $7.84 billion handle in January, a record for the month. Of this total, online casinos led the way by taking in 83%, and 70% of the total GGR for the month. This has been put down to the excellent selection of operators and games available to consumers.
Online slots are the most popular casino attraction, but traditional table games also appeal to a lot of customers. Tech developments have helped online casinos to bridge the gap between online and in-person gambling experiences, with live dealers, AI-enhanced gaming, and state-of-the-art graphics.
Despite online casinos taking the lion’s share of online gamblers, sports betting markets have also experienced growth. The gross gambling revenue of $91.9 million for January represents a 32.2% year-on-year increase, and a 133.8% improvement on December’s figures. Sporting fixtures and events have had an impact on these figures, but operators have proven that they can capitalize on opportunities.
Some aspects of Ontario’s gambling industry are still in their infancy, with single-event sports wagering only being legal since 2021, and online betting following in 2022. However, operators have been quick to act, with more than 80 unique gaming facilities and 50 operators now in action.
People can gamble on a game of chance from their smart phone.
The success of the online gambling industry can be attributed to the estimated 14.6 million Ontarian smartphone users, roughly 84% of the province’s population. Operators are able to provide convenient gambling for customers, and bonuses, offers, and competitive odds have also been key to securing new users.
While these improving figures are great for Canadian gambling sites, they have also helped to generate significant tax revenue streams, including more than $145 million in the first quarter of the 2024/25 fiscal year. Tax revenue since 2022 is rapidly approaching the £1 billion mark, and this has benefited public services and infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The industry has also had a positive effect on employment in Ontario, with an estimated 15,000 full-time jobs being created.
The online gambling industry in Ontario and Canada as a whole is in a strong position, thanks to a well-structured regulatory framework and the dedication of operators to embrace technological developments that can improve the user experience. As the industry continues to develop, consumers can expect an even greater game choice, as well as improved payment options that can streamline deposits and withdrawals.
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