Ontario’s online gambling market recorded a historic high in Q3 of the 2024-25 fiscal year, with total spending reaching CA$22.7 billion. This marks a 32% increase compared to the same period last year and a 22% rise from the previous quarter. iGaming Ontario, responsible for regulating the province’s online gaming sector, has also transitioned from quarterly to monthly reporting, providing more frequent insights into market trends.
Record-breaking online casino spending
The online casino segment continued to dominate, accounting for CA$18.9 billion in wagers during Q3. This figure represents a 38% year-on-year growth and maintains its position as the leading segment in Ontario’s online gaming market. Meanwhile, sports betting, which includes esports, generated CA$3.4 billion in wagers, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Peer-to-peer poker saw a slight decline, with wagers amounting to CA$418 million, down by 3%.
Revenue figures also reflected growth, with the total reaching CA$826 million for Q3. This represents a 26% increase compared to the previous fiscal year and a 12% rise from the previous quarter. The online casino sector contributed CA$644 million in revenue, showing a 37% year-over-year increase. However, sports betting revenue dropped 3% to CA$166 million, while poker revenue saw a 6% decrease to CA$16 million.
The market featured 50 active operators running a total of 83 gaming websites during the quarter, offering a wide range of gaming options to Ontario players.
December performance highlights
Ontario’s monthly performance report for December 2024 showed a new high for online gambling activity, with total spending reaching CA$7.8 billion. This represents a 28% increase compared to the previous year and a 4% rise from November. Online casino spending accounted for CA$6.5 billion, marking a 33% year-on-year increase and establishing a new monthly record.
Sports betting for December reached CA$1.1 billion, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year, while poker spending declined by 8% to CA$141 million. In terms of revenue, December recorded CA$269.3 million, a 19% year-over-year increase. However, this total fell 10% short of November’s record revenue of CA$291 million. Online casino revenue amounted to CA$224 million, up by 36%, while sports betting revenue decreased by 28% to CA$39 million, and poker revenue dropped by 7% to CA$5.6 million.
The new monthly reporting structure introduced by iGaming Ontario allows for more detailed tracking of market trends. The updated reporting format includes data broken down by month and presented in a multi-tab Excel format, enabling stakeholders to access insights on a rolling 13-month basis.
Source:
Ontario iGaming Market Performance Report, igamingontario.ca, January 22, 2025.