Canada’s iGaming sector has had rapid expansion since its first introduction, driven by Ontario’s new regulatory model, shifting players from offshore markets to legal ones. Now as new operators flood the market under legal licenses they have to compete for national visibility. What began as a bold experiment in 2022 has evolved into one of the most dynamic digital gambling markets in the world, drawing interest from global brands and Canadian-made competitors alike.
Ontario sets the pace for the rest of Canada
Ontario remains the country’s main focus for the iGaming market. With new rules and regulations being implemented that will form the blueprint for the other provinces to follow. The iGaming Ontario Act, which took effect in May 2025, now establishes iGaming Ontario as an independent agency responsible for commercial agreements with local operators, while the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) continues to serve as the national regulator for the market. The split between the two organizations shows a deliberate effort from the Canadian government to modernize its regulatory system, reduce the possibility of corruption, and create a bipartisan system where organisations can be independently reviewed without bias.
The model is working. By mid-2024, Ontario’s spending surpassed CA$22.7 billion, up 32 percent year-over-year. Gross gambling revenue reached CA$3.2 billion across 83 gaming sites, supported by an active player base of nearly one million residents. Almost 84% of players now use regulated sites, a milestone regulators describe as proof that the legal market can displace offshore competition without sacrificing consumer protections.
A recent court ruling could further accelerate Ontario’s momentum. In November 2025, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the province can now legally offer international access to their market. If implemented, the decision would open the door to cross-border poker and fantasy sports pools, expanding the Ontario iGaming market far beyond the Canadian borders.
Alberta reshapes its market to follow Ontario
Ontario’s success is reshaping how the rest of the country is implementing their iGaming rules and regulations. Alberta is now preparing its own commercial iGaming framework, after years of relying primarily on the Play Alberta platform. But provincial policymakers now face a delicate balance. Many Albertans already play on offshore sites they assume are regulated, and the province must shift those players into the legal market without undermining its state-run market. An early 2026 launch is expected, though industry groups warn that the transition will require clear messaging and a modern platform to attract players.
Across the country, regulators are observing Ontario’s approach as they consider how to manage offshore operators, strengthen consumer safeguards and attract reputable operators. However, recent trade tensions with the United States have added another layer of complexity, particularly for land-based casinos that rely on American-made gambling hardware and software. Online gambling, however, remains insulated from those supply-chain barriers, giving digital operators an advantage as demand grows.
Brand competition fuels growth in the Canadian market
Apart from the recent policy and regulation changes, market performance data shows just how competitive the Canadian landscape has become. According to new industry trend analyses, emerging casino brands are gaining significant traction in the new market by analysing player data and modernising their platforms before releasing in the country.
Brands like Wild Tokyo and LuckyDays have posted triple-digit year-over-year gains, demonstrating how distinctive branding and simplified modern platforms can win over Canadian players. Legacy names like BetVictor and ComeOn have also surged in popularity by modernizing their offerings, while crypto-focused platforms such as BetFury and SmokAce continue to expand their niche audiences through fast payments and blockchain-based features.
A maturing market with plenty of room to grow
Canada’s online casino sector remains on an exponential upward trajectory. Statista, a data prediction platform, projects that the expected revenue for the iGaming market will easily surpass US$9.5 billion in 2025, with mobile platforms leading the charge. Roughly 11.8 million Canadians already gamble on mobile devices, a figure expected to rise to nearly 14 million within the next three years.
Ontario’s regulatory overhaul has set the stage for the Canadian Igaming market, and with the upcoming launch of Alberta’s own market with more provinces expected to follow suit. Canada’s entire iGaming industry is expected to see exponential growth and an increase in regulation and review as it falls into the public eye and under the scrutiny of the Canadian government and advising regulatory boards.
References:
- iGaming Ontario: Quarterly Market Reports (market size, spending, revenue, active players, channelisation rate) – https://igamingontario.ca/en/operating-market/market-reports
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO): Regulatory announcements & operator rules – https://www.agco.ca/iGaming
- Ontario Court of Appeal: Decisions Database (cross-border iGaming / jurisdiction ruling) – https://www.ontariocourts.ca/coa/decisions/
- Statista: Canadian iGaming market forecast & mobile gambling revenue projections – https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/eservices/online-gambling/canada
