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More than 9 in 10 Ontario online gamblers now choose regulated gaming sites over offshore alternatives, according to new data from Ipsos. That’s up from 83.7% a year ago, marking another significant gain for Ontario’s legal iGaming market.
In particular, the recent study highlighted that only 8.9% chose to gamble on unregulated platforms, a huge drop from last year’s 16.3%. Before the Ontario iGaming launch on April 4, 2022, the provincial government estimated approximately 70% of players in the province used offshore platforms.
“It’s encouraging to see more and more Ontarians choosing regulated sites when they gamble online,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO chief executive officer and registrar. “This continued shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s model and its focus on protecting players. The AGCO remains committed to addressing the residual illegal market and ensuring regulated operators meet Ontario’s strong regulatory standards.”
Ontario Is an International Leader in Legal iGaming Market Growth
Canadians have always been inveterate gamblers. Be it playing casino games or placing a bet on the outcome of a sporting event, taking chances has always been part of Canada’s cultural DNA. Even before Ontario online casinos and sportsbooks launched in a regulated market, over 19 million active online gambling accounts were registered in Canada.
That means, once Ontario decided to go with an open, competitive iGaming market, it was merely redirecting an existing market rather than creating one. The major goal was to create a safe environment for its players. Lawmakers wanted to tempt players away from offshore gambling sites and persuade them to play on licensed sites. And the results suggest that the strategy has paid off considerably.
Beyond the huge revenue numbers that continue to soar year after year, having 9 out of 10 people play on regulated sites is a massive feat for the regulator. The AGCO requires licensed operators to uphold strict standards around game integrity and responsible gambling. That way, players on legal sites can be confident they are gambling in an environment that is fair and accountable.
Offshore and unlicensed platforms carry none of these obligations. This, in turn, leaves players exposed to risks ranging from compromised personal data to criminal activity such as money laundering and match-fixing.
“These results are clear — Ontario is an international leader in upholding a safe, competitive, and regulated online gaming market,: said Doug Downey, attorney general of Ontario. “Only four years ago, our government took action to bring online gaming into a modern, regulated framework that protects players, supports greater choice for consumers, and tackles the illegal market.
“To date, we’re proud to see Ontario’s world-class online gaming model continue to support jobs, innovation, and economic activity across the province.”
Ontario Proved it Works — Now it’s Alberta’s Turn
The best part of Ontario iGaming’s “zero-to-hero” story in tackling offshore gambling in one fell swoop is that other Canadian provinces have a clear picture of what’s possible. For Alberta, that picture could not have arrived at a better time.
With sportsbooks and online casinos in Alberta set to go live on July 13, Ontario’s success in recapturing a significant portion of illegal gambling activity offers a proven roadmap. Alberta has long maintained that regulated online gambling would deliver four things:
- Greater choice for players
- Stronger consumer protections
- A meaningful reduction in illegal gambling activity
- Recovery of tax dollars that have been flowing offshore for years
Ontario’s trajectory suggests all four are achievable.
Speaking at the SBC Summit Canada, Dale Nally, Alberta’s minister of service and red tape reduction, made clear that his government viewed regulation not as an option but as an obligation. The question was never whether Albertans gambled online. But it was more about how they can do it safely and within a framework that worked for the province.
That framing matters. Alberta’s approach to iGaming regulation has been deliberate. While taking cues from what worked in Ontario was crucial, remaining mindful of its own market dynamics was equally as important, if not more. Lawmakers in the province have been careful not to simply copy and paste another jurisdiction’s model. But to also build something that reflects the needs and expectations of Alberta’s players and operators alike.
“We know that online gambling is alive and well, and you can do one of two things as a government,” Nally previously said. “You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it’s not there. We have a different approach. We believe we have a fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of Alberta, and that means we want gambling to be as safe and responsible as possible, and that’s only going to happen in a regulated environment… The best way to deal with an illegal, illicit market is to have a healthy, responsible legal market.”
If Ontario’s experience is anything to go by, the transition from an unregulated to a regulated environment can be achieved relatively swiftly and with considerable public buy-in. Alberta now has the advantage of launching with that knowledge already in hand — and the clock is ticking.
