Ontario: Online Sports Betting and iGaming Doubled in the Last Quarter

The sports betting market in Ontario is experiencing significant growth, originating from legalization in the provinces, offering users an easy and convenient experience through gambling apps and websites.

With a wide range of gaming options and a fast-growing user base, the sports betting market in Ontario is becoming a major force in the region's economy.
This, despite facing a legal threat (when the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke affirmed that the province's regulatory scheme is illegal), and concerns about gambling advertisements.
In fact, the market for online sports bookmaking sites and Internet casinos in Canada's most populous province, saw wagering activity nearly double in the last quarter. iGaming in Ontario is proving to be a major driver.

The iGO statistics

Recently, data reported by the Government Agency iGaming Ontario (iGO) reveal that total wagering in the province's regulated market for private operators reached $11.5 billion for the three months ended Dec. 31.
We are talking about a sharp 90.9 percent increase over the previous quarter. No promotions such as Bonuses or free spins are included in these statistics.

As for private iGaming and online sports betting operators in Ontario, revenues rose to $457 million last quarter. This is a corresponding increase of 71.2 percent over the previous quarter.
In all categories reported by iGO, there was growth from quarter to quarter, but individual revenue figures between sports wagering, casino games or Poker were not disclosed.
During this period, the number of bookmakers rose to 36 from 24, while as far as gaming portals are concerned, they rose to 68 from 42.

Finally, active player accounts currently number 910,000, up from 628,000 previously, for a monthly expenditure per account estimated at $167, up from the previous $142 per account.

Gambling market in Ontario

Ontario unveiled its regulated market for iGaming in April: now private sector operators of sports betting, casinos and online Poker can offer wagering services.
This is a first-of-its-kind regulatory framework in Canada, where most other provinces have chosen to stick to government-run gambling themselves.

Now we will see whether other provinces will follow Ontario's lead, as there have been problems in the last period regarding the amount and approach of advertising to launch the province's iGaming market, in addition to the legal threat.
Against this backdrop, iGaming in Ontario continues to grow: with $4.1 billion in wagers in the first quarter of 2022, when only 18 operators were in business.