From Grey to Regulated: A Market Transformed
Before regulation, Ontarians poured billions into offshore gambling sites. These platforms, operating without oversight, often lacked mechanisms to protect users from fraud, addiction, or unfair practices. The creation of iGaming Ontario (iGO), under the oversight of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), marked a turning point.
The aim was twofold: to reclaim economic value lost to unregulated websites, and to establish a framework that prioritizes consumer safety. This included licensing requirements, operational agreements, regular audits, and a code of conduct for operators.
The open market welcomed global giants like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM alongside smaller, localized offerings, ensuring competition that benefits players with variety, innovation, and—crucially—accountability.
Players in Focus: Safer, Smarter, More Selective
The success of Ontario’s iGaming market goes well beyond headline revenue numbers. A third-party IPSOS study commissioned by AGCO and iGO shows that 83% of players in the province now prefer regulated platforms over offshore sites, pointing to growing trust in licensed operators and the protections they offer.
This change in player habits reflects the broader direction of the market, as outlined in an overview of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market growth. As confidence in legal operators increases, consumer safeguards have become more robust, game portfolios more diverse, and regulatory oversight clearer. Recent provincial data suggests that as more players shift toward licensed platforms, responsible gambling tools and transparency are becoming central to the market’s long-term stability.
That said, challenges remain. More than 20% of players who use legal sites still place bets on unlicensed platforms, often drawn by aggressive promotions or a limited understanding of the risks involved. In response, Ontario continues to focus on player education, clear regulatory standards, and mandatory responsible gambling features such as deposit limits, play-time tracking, and early intervention measures designed to support safer play.
Fiscal Highlights: Ontario’s Numbers Tell a Story of Maturity
Ontario’s iGaming industry has matured rapidly. In just one year, the province saw a 31% increase in total wagers, reaching CA$82.7 billion, while gross gaming revenue climbed 32% to CA$3.2 billion.
The table below provides a breakdown of the 2024-25 fiscal year performance by gaming category:
|
Category |
Total Wagers (CA$) |
Revenue (CA$) |
Year-over-Year Growth |
|
Casino Games |
69.6 billion |
2.4 billion |
34% (wagers), 36% (rev) |
|
Sports Betting |
11.4 billion |
724 million |
17% (wagers), 23% (rev) |
|
Peer-to-Peer Poker |
1.7 billion |
66 million |
2% (wagers), stable |
These figures exclude promotional wagers or bonus funds, focusing instead on cash-based betting to better gauge actual economic activity.
Self-Exclusion System: A Bold Step in Responsible Gaming
One of Ontario’s most ambitious projects is the upcoming centralized self-exclusion system, designed to unify exclusion protocols across all regulated platforms. The current system, fragmented across individual operators, allows some users to bypass restrictions by simply moving to another site.
To close this loophole, iGO has partnered with Integrity 360 and IXUP to build a comprehensive platform that allows players to self-exclude from all legal iGaming sites with a single action. The technology will include:
Cross-platform integration (including OLG.ca)
Privacy-focused design
Secure identity verification
Real-time compliance enforcement for all licensed operators
While the project remains in development, its rollout will mark a pioneering step for North America and potentially set a new industry benchmark.
Regulatory Commentary: Market With a Mission
Heidi Reinhart, Chair of iGaming Ontario’s Board of Directors, reflected on the sector’s growth in a recent statement:
“These results show Ontario is home to a truly dynamic iGaming market with a strong roster of operators and a world-class list of games available for players. Ontario’s regulated market continues to grow by offering a safer environment for Ontarians to play.”
This safety-first narrative is more than political rhetoric. It has translated into concrete safeguards: regular audits, operator accountability, and technology that supports real-time oversight.
From Grey Markets to Gold Standards
Once the Wild West of digital wagering, Ontario’s online gambling scene has undergone a dramatic transformation. What began in 2022 as a regulatory gamble has evolved into a North American benchmark. The numbers speak with confidence—over CA$82 billion in wagers and more than CA$3 billion in revenue in the 2024-25 fiscal year. But it’s not just profit that marks success—it’s the principled pivot from offshore chaos to a well-lit corridor of consumer protection, accountability, and innovation.
Players at the Core: Trust, Tools, and a Smarter Game
Beyond the financial headlines lies a more human victory. Eighty-three percent of Ontario players now choose regulated platforms—a striking leap in public trust. This isn’t just about odds or interfaces—it’s about safety. Features like time trackers, deposit caps, and intervention alerts show a shift in philosophy: the player isn’t just a user, but a person to be protected. Yet, the story isn’t free of friction. Over one-fifth of users still dabble in unregulated sites, lured by bonuses or blind to risks. Ontario’s answer? A mix of education and engineering, culminating in a forthcoming centralized self-exclusion system—one of the most ambitious player-safety initiatives ever undertaken on the continent.
Guardrails and Growth: Charting the Future of Ontario’s Digital Bets
Ontario’s iGaming success didn’t happen by chance—it’s the product of regulation crafted with intent. But as the market matures, so do its challenges. The battle against illegal operators persists, and regulators are doubling down—urging media outlets to shun grey-market promotions and tightening their digital dragnet. Meanwhile, Ontario’s inclusive model—offering not just sports betting, but casino games and peer-to-peer poker—has caught the world’s eye. With eyes set on a fully integrated, privacy-secure exclusion system and increased enforcement, the province continues to balance growth with guardrails. In the great game of iGaming regulation, Ontario is not just playing—it’s setting the rules.
Challenges on the Horizon: The Battle Against the Unregulated
Despite Ontario’s success, the fight is far from over. Illegal operators continue to lure players with no identity checks, bigger bonuses, and laxer restrictions. Moreover, they market aggressively through digital channels and, in some cases, circumvent local advertising laws.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario recently urged media outlets to stop promoting unlicensed operators. The goal is to limit the visibility of grey-market offerings and help users identify safe, approved platforms.
Increased cross-border collaboration and more sophisticated detection tools may be required to further curtail illegal activity, especially as the iGaming ecosystem continues to expand.
Comparative Glance: Ontario vs. the World
Ontario’s approach is attracting international attention. While U.S. states have focused more narrowly on sports betting, Ontario has opened the door to a broader mix—including slots, poker, and live dealer games.
This wide-spectrum model, paired with strong regulation, offers a framework that other provinces and countries might emulate.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next for Ontario iGaming
The next few years will be crucial for sustaining momentum. Areas of focus include:
Finalizing and launching the self-exclusion system
Continuing public education campaigns
Encouraging innovation among licensed operators
Expanding enforcement against illegal websites
Ontario’s success has so far been rooted in balance—allowing market growth while prioritizing player protection. The goal is to keep that balance as the market matures.
Conclusion: A Province That Played the Long Game
Ontario’s iGaming journey is more than a financial success story. It is a case study in thoughtful regulation, consumer-first design, and technological innovation. From billions in reclaimed revenue to pioneering self-exclusion tools, the province is proving that online gambling can be both profitable and principled.
The real win, however, lies in the growing trust of players and the creation of a safer, more sustainable digital gambling landscape. Ontario placed a bet on regulation—and the early returns suggest it was a wise one.
