Four years into Ontario’s open and competitive regulated igaming market, new research commissioned by iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Association of Ontario (AGCO) shows that when Ontarians choose to play online, more than 9 out of 10 are choosing safer options offered by regulated sites.
The new study from Ipsos found that 91.1 per cent of respondents who gambled online reported doing so on regulated sites — an increase of 7.4 percentage points compared to the previous year (83.7 per cent). That means respondents who reported gambling only on unregulated sites declined significantly to 8.9 per cent, down from 16.3 per cent last year.
“These new results show growing confidence among Ontarians in the province’s regulated market, which offers mandatory player protections and safeguards across all regulated sites that the unregulated market does not,” said iGaming Ontario President and CEO Joseph Hillier.
Since April 2022, iGaming Ontario has worked with our operators and government partners to build a competitive, regulated market that prioritizes player safety and choice. This right-touch approach has led to the market generating more than $4.2 billion in gaming revenue from over $103 billion in wagering activity during its 4th year1.
“Our government is proud to support a modern, regulated igaming market that puts player safety first,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “As more Ontarians move to regulated platforms, it’s clear that strong oversight, enhanced consumer protections, and responsible gaming measures are helping build greater trust and confidence in Ontario’s online gaming sector.”
As Ontario’s igaming market continues to mature, iGaming Ontario remains focused on providing greater player choice and more consumer protections for all Ontarians, including BetGuard, iGaming Ontario’s new player support tool that launched earlier this month.
For those who want to play in Ontario’s regulated igaming market — and for those who choose to take a break from it — you can do so with confidence.
About iGaming Ontario
As a Crown agency reporting to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, iGaming Ontario works to bring world-class online gambling experiences to the province in a safer environment, helping to protect consumers and provide more choice.
1These numbers are unaudited and subject to adjustment. The Ontario igaming market described here includes all eligible games offered by Operators pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. As such, they do not include OLG’s igaming offering or pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing.