Report Reveals Canada As A Major iGaming Market In North America

Canada’s legal online gambling sector is attracting attention from operators, investors and suppliers as new data highlights improved player adoption and confidence in licensed platforms.

According to an analysis released by iGaming.com and cited by Gambling News, Ontario’s latest channelisation results and Alberta’s upcoming market launch are signs that the country is entering a new stage of development.

Ontario was the clearest example of success in Canada’s regulated market. A recent Ipsos survey commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) found that 91.1% of online gamblers in the province now use licensed gambling websites.

The figure represents a 7.4 percentage-point increase compared to the previous year and ranks among the highest channelisation rates reported globally. Ontario’s legal market launched in April 2022. Before regulation, provincial estimates suggested that roughly 70% of online gambling activity occurred through unlicensed operators.

Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey previously described the province as “an international leader in building a safe, competitive and regulated online gambling market”, while Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho highlighted responsible gambling tools and consumer protections as key drivers of player confidence.

Alberta Market Launch Creates New Growth Opportunities

While Ontario set the benchmark, industry attention is shifting to the west. Alberta is scheduled to launch its regulated commercial online gambling market on 13 July. Industry observers view the province as one of the most important upcoming gambling opportunities in North America.

According to iGaming.com, around 70 operators are preparing for entry, while multiple licence applications are already progressing through the approval process. Among the early movers is bet365, which has secured approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).

Many analysts expect Alberta to follow a framework similar to Ontario’s open-market model. The approach will increase competition, strengthen consumer protections and generate new tax revenues for the province.

Additional research published by Online-casinos.com and reported by iGaming Business identified Alberta among the most closely watched emerging gambling markets globally, alongside Brazil and Finland.

The report noted that governments are recognising the ability of legal gambling markets to improve player safety while generating meaningful economic returns.

Canada Becomes One Of The World’s Fastest Growing Markets

Canada’s growing appeal is also supported by industry performance data. According to the USA and Canada iGaming Landscape 2025 report from market intelligence platform Blask, Canada’s online gambling market reached an estimated value of $9.5bn in 2025.

This makes Canada the third-largest iGaming market globally by Competitive Earning Baseline, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom. The report also found that Canada recorded the fastest year-on-year growth among the world’s five largest online gambling markets.

More than 230 brands are currently competing for Canadian players, illustrating both the scale of the opportunity and the sector’s increased competitiveness. As more provinces implement regulated gambling frameworks, operators view Canada as a market with massive long-term potential.

Offshore Competition And Player Protection Remain Key Priorities

Despite the expansion of legal gambling, offshore operators are still a major source of concern.  Blask estimates that offshore operators generated approximately $1.6bn in additional value during 2025, compared with around $800m generated by regulated domestic operators. The report also found that approximately 63% of brands serving Canadian players remain unlicensed nationally.

Ontario has taken a different approach by allowing former grey market operators to transition into the regulated framework. This strategy has contributed to the province’s strong channelisation results and reduced reliance on unlicensed platforms.

In April, iGaming Ontario introduced its Centralised Self-Exclusion system, known as BetGuard. Developed alongside Integrity Compliance 360 and Dataworks, the platform will enhance responsible gambling protections once fully launched.

AGCO has also expanded enforcement efforts against unlicensed operators while increasing oversight of advertising practices, age verification requirements and responsible gambling standards.

According to iGaming.com, Canada’s focus on competition, consumer protection and channelisation increasingly contrasts with developments in some European markets where additional gambling taxes and levies are under consideration.

“Canada is quickly establishing itself as one of the most attractive regulated gambling markets in North America,” said Prof. Dr. Andreas Ditsche, CEO of iGaming.com, as quoted by Gambling News. “The combination of strong player protection measures and high channelisation rates is attracting attention from operators worldwide.”

Canada has been earmarked as one of the fastest-growing iGaming markets in North America. This was evidenced by 91.1% of users accessing online gambling via legal platforms, which is one of the highest channelisation rates worldwide. Ontario leads the Canadian industry’s growth, while Alberta is set to launch the country’s latest legal market on July 13.