The Economic Boom of Online Gaming Exports from Canada

By John Davis 

August 26th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Canada’s digital entertainment sector has experienced explosive growth, with the video game industry contributing $5.1 billion to the nation’s GDP in 2024, representing a 3% increase since 2021. This remarkable expansion occurs against a backdrop of significant youth unemployment challenges, where rates for Canadians aged 15-24 have climbed to 14.6% in July 2025, nearly triple the rate for adults over 25. The gaming industry’s success story provides a compelling counternarrative to these employment struggles, demonstrating how digital innovation can drive economic prosperity while creating high-quality career opportunities.

The gaming industry’s success story provides a compelling counternarrative to employment struggles.

The scope of Canada’s gaming exports is particularly impressive, with 88% of industry revenue derived from international markets. This export-focused approach has positioned Canada as a global powerhouse in video game development, with 821 active studios employing 34,010 people at an average salary of $102,000 annually. The industry’s resilience during economic uncertainty contrasts sharply with traditional sectors that have struggled to provide meaningful employment for young Canadians.

Parallel to the traditional gaming sector, Canada’s Igaming industry, which includes the Best Online Casinos Canada market, has also emerged as a significant economic force, representing a different facet of the broader gaming ecosystem. The igaming industry, encompassing online casinos, sports betting, and digital gambling platforms, generated $3.20 billion in gross gaming revenue in Ontario alone during 2024-25. This represents a 32% year-over-year increase, demonstrating the rapid growth of regulated online gambling markets. The igaming sector now supports approximately 15,000 jobs across Ontario, contributing substantially to provincial and federal tax revenues while providing consumers with regulated alternatives to offshore gambling platforms.

Burlington’s Strategic Position in Gaming Exports

Burlington has emerged as a strategic location within the province’s gaming ecosystem. The city’s proximity to Toronto’s thriving tech corridor, combined with its business-friendly environment and skilled workforce, has attracted several gaming companies.

While Ontario leads Canada with 276 gaming studios, Burlington has emerged as a strategic location within the province’s gaming ecosystem. The city’s proximity to Toronto’s thriving tech corridor, combined with its business-friendly environment and skilled workforce, has attracted several gaming companies seeking cost-effective alternatives to major metropolitan centers. Burlington’s economic development strategy explicitly focuses on Information & Communications Technology (ICT) as a key industry, creating an environment conducive to gaming and tech companies.

The Greater Toronto Area, including Burlington, now hosts over 300 game development studios, with the region employing approximately 7,000 people directly in video game development. This concentration has created a cluster effect, where smaller studios benefit from proximity to talent, resources, and potential partners. Burlington’s position within this ecosystem allows companies to access Toronto’s deep talent pool while maintaining lower operational costs, making it an attractive location for both established studios and emerging developers.

Revenue Statistics and Market Performance

Canada’s gaming industry revenue streams demonstrate remarkable diversity and growth potential. The sector generated $4.3 billion in total revenue in 2021, with exports accounting for 84% of this figure. By 2024, total contributions had grown to $5.1 billion in GDP impact, reflecting not just direct revenue but also broader economic effects including supply chain benefits and employee wage impacts.

The mobile gaming segment has shown particularly strong performance, with Canada hosting approximately 11.8 million mobile gamers in 2023, projected to reach 14.1 million by 2028. The broader Canadian gaming market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% from 2025 to 2030, potentially reaching $21.01 billion by 2030.

Export performance varies significantly by company size, with large companies (over 100 employees) generating more than 90% of their revenue from international markets. This export concentration has proven beneficial during domestic economic challenges, as Canadian studios can tap into global demand while operating with favorable exchange rates and competitive production costs.

The iGaming Industry Connection

Ontario’s regulated market has expanded from 17 licensed websites to 84 gaming platforms run by 49 licensed operators.

One area of Canada’s digital entertainment economy that is growing quickly is the igaming industry. Since its April 2022 launch, Ontario’s regulated market has expanded from 17 licensed websites to 84 gaming platforms run by 49 licensed operators. Over 1.1 million player accounts are currently active on the market, and in Q2 of 2024–2025, the average monthly spending per account was $308.

Since many traditional gaming companies are looking into opportunities in the igaming space, this growth has important ramifications for them. Traditional video game development skills and the technical know-how needed to create online casino games, sports betting platforms, and associated digital gambling products are very similar. By utilizing their current technological capabilities and gaining access to new revenue streams, Canadian studios are expanding their portfolios to include igaming products for global markets.

The regulatory framework established in Ontario has created a template for other provinces, with Alberta preparing to launch its licensed igaming market in late 2025. This expansion will likely create additional opportunities for Canadian gaming companies to develop products for domestic and international igaming markets.

Strategic Advice for Aspiring Gaming Exporters

Companies entering the gaming export market should focus on several key strategies based on successful Canadian examples. First, building strong technical capabilities while maintaining lean operational structures has proven effective for companies like Tiny Titan Studios, which grew from a one-person operation to 25 employees while maintaining low overhead costs.

Market research and targeted expansion represent critical success factors. Aspiring exporters should utilize resources like the Trade Commissioner Service to identify international opportunities and build relationships with foreign partners. The Canadian government’s Creative Export Canada program offers funding for projects that forecast generating export revenues, providing financial support for market entry activities.

Building development capabilities across multiple platforms is essential, as mobile gaming continues to drive market growth. Companies should invest in cross-platform development skills,

Opportunities for new entrants remain strong, particularly for companies that can combine technical innovation with effective international market development strategies.

Financial planning should emphasize sustainable growth over rapid expansion. Technical specialization in high-demand areas such as multiplayer gaming, live services, and cross-platform development can provide competitive advantages in export markets.

The combination of government support, technical expertise, and strategic market focus has positioned Canada as a leading gaming export nation. As the industry continues to grow and diversify, opportunities for new entrants remain strong, particularly for companies that can combine technical innovation with effective international market development strategies.