iGaming Ontario has published September’s market performance report, and there’s a new monthly record. Total wagers count climbed 5% higher than the province’s set record in August and it’s 30.7% more than what it saw in September 2024.
The Heartland Province collected upwards of $8.55 billion in wagers in September, surpassing August’s high of $8.14 billion. Of course, the usual suspect, licensed Ontario casinos, brought in the most bucks, contributing 86% to the market, slightly lower than the 89% share generated in July and August.
As Ontario’s iGaming sector continues to showcase sustained growth, other Canadian provinces are feeling the heat. More specifically, Alberta continues to face mounting pressure even as it edges closer to opening its own regulated iGaming market. After all, can the western province truly capture similar success, or does it risk falling behind the curve and losing out on potential revenue?
Online Casinos Take the Front Seat in Ontario’s iGaming Market
When it comes to online gambling action, Ontario online casinos are clearly in a league of their own. Of the total $329.4 million in gross revenue brought in last month (September 2025), online casinos poured in $277.8 million (84%), which is the highest monthly casino revenue ever recorded in the province.
And if that doesn’t turn enough heads, licensed casino sites drew in more than $7.3 billion in cash wagers — the second consecutive month where online casino cash bets surpassed the $7 billion mark. In August, the number was $7.22 billion.
But what’s even a bigger deal is how fast this growth is quickly outpacing every other vertical in the province’s gambling sector. Despite not cementing their dominance on the market yet, licensed casino operators continue expanding their lead month after month. The province’s competitive iGaming market has even managed to pull players away from offshore sites — the primary reason behind the province’s impressive $3.2 billion in revenue generated in its third year alone.
All Eyes on Alberta As Ontario iGaming Hits New Highs
Big changes are afoot in Alberta. With the Alberta iGaming Act passing its third reading in May 2025, the province is set to become the second Canadian province to open up to private operators, just like Ontario did in April 2022. The Bill only awaits to receive Royal Assent from, but plans are already underway in terms of consulting with stakeholders, drafting regulations, and even designing how the market will operate.
While ribbon-cutting is expected early 2026, Alberta still runs a conservative regime. At present, residents have only one government-run option, PlayAlberta, which the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) oversees. Research conducted by IPSOS on behalf of the Canadian Gaming Association earlier this year revealed that only 1 in 10 Albertans use PlayAlberta, while 77.3% of all players exclusively play at offshore sites.
And it’s not hard to see why. Compared with PlayAlberta’s limited offerings, offshore sites boast bigger game libraries, more generous bonuses, and faster payment processing. These shortcomings not only highlight the government-run site’s limited reach, but also the huge revenue and tax potential the province is missing out on by singling out private operators.
An Opportunity to Diversify Alberta’s Revenue Streams
If Ontario is anything to go by, Alberta’s iGaming market launch will see significant action. When Ontario went live, the province saw a rush of new operators, then followed slow but continual growth thereafter. Today, its iGaming market alone contributes millions in tax dollars and billions in wagering revenue every quarter, proving how efficiently a well-regulated open market can recapture gambling action previously lost to offshore sites.
For Alberta, the stakes are high. Home to one of the most affluent player bases with a huge appetite for online gaming, experts expect the province to attract major international brands looking to expand their Canadian market dominance. In fact, BetMGM and SuperGroup, which own Jackpot City and Spin Casinos, have already expressed their interest to be fast out the starting blocks.
“The product is being built ready. We are only waiting for all the regulations so we know exactly what we need to do there,” said SuperGroup’s CEO Neal Menashe.
Ontario has seen tons of operator arrivals from both the US and the UK. It would be surprising if Alberta’s regulated market wouldn’t repeat a similar pattern as we’ve seen in Ontario, especially since the western province plans to adopt the same framework.
The Path Ahead: Will Other Canadian Provinces Adopt a Similar Ontario Model?
While Ontario and Alberta’s soon-to-launch market have been making headlines over the past few months, the question on everyone’s lips is: Will other Canadian provinces take the plunge and replicate Ontario’s iGaming model like Alberta?
With an estimated 19.3 million active Canadian gamblers, it’s clear the demand for online gambling and sports betting is already there. However, a majority of Canadian provinces, less Ontario and soon Alberta, employ a cautious and conservative stance towards iGaming, providing just one government-run online casino/sportsbetting platform. For many regulators it’s about balancing consumer protection, responsible gambling measures and tax revenue against the risk of increased gambling accessibility, especially to the vulnerable.
But Ontario’s success is a case study. Since the province launched its regulated iGaming market, it has shown that clear licensing, oversight, and revenue sharing can create a safe and competitive environment for both operators and players. If Alberta’s model is just as effective, other provinces like British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba may start to look towards embracing similar frameworks.
Ultimately Canada’s iGaming landscape could become a patchwork of provincial markets each with their own version of Ontario’s system. The next few years will tell if the rest of the country is ready to move from a wait and see approach to active participation in this growing industry.
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