The emergence of the iGaming industry following the pandemic has almost been intrinsically linked to the timing of legalised online gaming in Canada. Although it is difficult to put a complete figure on it, the Canadian online casino market is now believed to be worth more than $30 billion per annum, and with the rise in popularity of iGaming, now worth billions itself as an industry, we’d expect that number to grow even further.
But just how much further can online gaming expand in the Maple Leaf state? Let’s examine how much further the industry can develop in Canada.
The industry hit the ground running
The country’s capital city Ontario officially opened its legal online gambling market back in 2022, handing licenses to some of the top operators in the world, allowing them to integrate content for Canadian players to experience a wide range of top-class table games and slot games, while also leveraging their passion for sport with a variety of top-class sports books available at the touch of a button.
Speaking back when the legislations were passed and the country became regulated, PointsBet Canada chief executive Scott Vanderwel was thrilled to announce their sportsbook had been legalised amongst a plethora of other companies. “Just moments after 12:00am local time this morning, PointsBet Canada became one of the first private sportsbooks to take a legal wager,”
Flutter Entertainment also made sure they were involved in some capacity. FanDuel Group said it would also begin taking bets as soon as the market opened, securing a licence to offer both sports betting and iGaming in Ontario.
“We’re so thrilled to open our Canadian office and bring FanDuel’s world-class sportsbook and casino to Canada’s passionate sports fans,” FanDuel chief executive Amy Howe said. “This is a huge moment for the industry and we look forward to providing Canadians with entertaining and responsible sports experiences.”
So from the first hours, players already had access to some of the best content in the world, as the industry capitalised on a nation with a large population that has a love of sport and a variety of land-based venues already in its capital. Canada and the casino went hand in hand.
Two years on
Ontario’s online casino market has already reported considerable growth in its second full year as a regulated open gaming market, according to an iGaming Ontario performance report. This leaves the country with a 78% increase year-over-year, and it’s easy to see why. Players have access to a range of casino options, and with the advancements in not just technology within the industry, but the improvement of slot and table games by developers, there are always going to be new players as operators continue to try and bridge the gap between the casual player and regular bettor.
Indeed, many of the best studios are working on creating more immersive editions of games, with the classics like roulette and blackjack now replicating the land-based casino in finer detail, allowing for customisation options for bespoke live dealer games that include language choice – a massive inclusion for a nation where a lot of the country speaks French – and advanced features like Neighbour and French bets, providing a strategic element to decision-making.
Look at the best CA casino operators recommendations from Gambling.com and all will have their take on the classics as well as a wide range of slot games that carry proven themes and popular characters – everything from Thor and The Trials of Asgard to Gigatroonz and Mega Moolah.
What’s next?
Overall, Ontario will continue to grow as a gaming market as more operators enter the province, and that will mean Canada overall will grow in popularity. As we approach the Stanley Cup, the NBA Playoffs, and then the 2026 World Cup, which Canada hosts alongside the United States and Mexico, expect a wider range of sportsbooks to become available, especially those that have gamification elements, with William Hill perhaps the country’s frontrunner at the moment due to its strategic journey building, incentives, rewards, and bonuses.
Going forward the stats have shown growth in Ontario year by year, and that is only likely to continue as the iGaming industry develops.