A gambling paradox: Canada falls, Ontario rises in participation

Canada’s gambling numbers are falling while Ontario’s online iGaming market is reaching record high wagers.

Over the past two decades, there has been a steady decline in Canada’s gambling participation. In the same timeframe, Ontario’s online gaming market continues to rise, reaching record revenues and wagers in 2025 and 2026.

It is an interesting paradox that highlights how few Canadians are participating in gambling. And how those who do tend to opt for online gambling activities.

The national decline in gambling participation

Back in 2002, approximately 76% of Canadians over the age of 15 reported gambling in the previous year. Then, in 2018, participation figures fell to 64.5% based on the Statistics Canada Surveys.

According to analysts, despite the increase in visibility for gambling via digital media and sports sponsorships, there is a drastic decline in Canadians choosing to engage in gaming in Canadian casinos when compared to 20 years ago.

Ontario’s big gaming boom

For Ontario’s regulated iGaming market, there’s been quite impressive growth since it launched in April 2022.

From 2023 to 2024, about CAD 63.2 billion was earned in wagers and CAD 2.2 billion in revenue. The following year (2024-2025) saw those figures jump to CAD 82.7 billion in wagers and CAD 2.9 billion in revenue.

In the same year, there was nearly CAD 100 billion spent on wagers and CAD 4 billion collected in gross gaming revenue.

Some of the biggest contributors to the increased figures are online casino domination, as almost 75%-87% of wagers and revenue stem from iGaming platforms.

Not to mention the more than CAD 12 billion wagered on sports, with the late-year surges tied to big sporting events like the NFL.

Stats reveal that Ontario had over 1.267 million active accounts in 2025, which is a 24.5% year-on-year increase.

The paradox explained

While there are fewer gamblers in the region, there is also deeper engagement. The growth is primarily driven by existing players who engage in more active gameplay and wagering, instead of the addition of new players.

With Ontario’s gambling regulations and framework redirecting players to locally licensed channels, the official revenues have been expanded without having to do anything about the player base.

Sports partnerships, deals with the NHL, CFL and other leagues have also contributed to the visibility of gambling online despite the participation rates nationally declining.

Ontario has also taken the lead, hosting over 48 licensed operators, with more expected in the future. The competitive model is in direct contrast to government-run systems in other provinces.

There might be some competition soon, as Alberta has shown interest in adopting a similar regulated structure, and Canada's gambling regulations should also reflect it.

With the growth concentrated on smaller groups of active players, regulators might need to place more emphasis on monitoring potential problem gambling behaviour.

The structural shift

Canada’s gambling landscape is changing, with overall national participation falling but Ontario’s digital market booming. This just goes to show how big a role technology and regulation are playing.

Ontario brought in a record-setting CAD 100 billion in wagers in 2025, which highlights the impact of this transformation, considering fewer Canadians have been participating in online gambling.

This leads to a bigger concern and focus on responsible gambling within a market that is driven by digital engagement.

Responsible Gambling & Play Safe — Gamble RESPONSIBLY. At CasinoWow, we're dedicated to responsible gambling and we provide you with many resources to help you play safe.

Considering its smaller groups are consistent in their gambling efforts, regulators should place a greater focus on their gaming activity and ensure they remain within the limits of responsible gambling.

All this can also serve as a perfect example for Alberta and its move towards gambling regulation. Apparently, the blueprint to success lies in providing enough locally-licensed options and taking advantage of technology and player protection measures.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: April 13, 2026

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A gambling paradox: Canada falls, Ontario rises in participation

The national decline in gambling participation

Ontario’s big gaming boom

The paradox explained