Ontario Sets New Wager Record In January As Online Casino Market Surges
Ontario’s online gambling market continued its strong start to the year, setting a new monthly wagering record.
Operators in the Heartland Province processed $9.52billion in January, up 21.4% compared to 2024. It is also the fourth consecutive month where wagers have exceeded $9bn.
The impressive figure was driven by some of the best online casinos, which saw a 33.7% increase in revenue.
The overall figure would have been higher but for a near 6% drop in sports betting handle.
Meanwhile, the Province is considering a possible iGaming liquidity-pooling deal that could enhance online poker and fantasy sports markets.
The Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC) has urged the Supreme Court of Canada to reject the proposal.
Online Casinos Drive Growth
In January, online gambling operators took $9.52bn in wagers – a year-over-year increase of 21.4%.
Revenue saw similar gains, posting a 22.2% annual increase to $401.5million. The figure is down from December’s record-breaking total of $425m.
The growth was driven primarily by the online casino vertical.
iGaming accounted for 86%, or $8.18bn, of total wagers, with revenue up a massive 33.7% compared to 2025, to $308.9m.
The sports betting picture is a lot less rosy. $86.7m in sports betting revenue represents a 5.8% dip compared to last year, although wagering volume only slipped a marginal 0.25% during the period.
Revenue saw similar gains, posting a 22.2% annual increase to $401.5m. The figure is down from December’s record-breaking total of $425m.
Regulatory & Geographical Expansion
Online poker only generated $156m in wagers, accounting for a very small share of the market. However, that is set to change.
In November, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that operators are entitled to let players compete against participants from overseas jurisdictions.
Liquidity pooling in poker and fantasy sports is common in some markets. It offers greater opportunities for players, enhancing the appeal of certain games.
However, the decision was opposed by other provinces and the CLC. The case is now before the Supreme Court of Canada for a final ruling.
The CLC is seemingly concerned that it would eventually lead to national lottery games.
In a document submitted to the Supreme Court, the CLC said: “While the issue today is international liquidity, the next case may involve a province seeking to assert authority to conduct lottery schemes that extend across the country.
While You Are Here, Why Not Check Out Our: Online Casino Games & Free Slots?
Ontario opened its regulated online gambling market in 2022 and has posted significant growth, particularly across casino platforms and the best online slots.
In 2025, the province posted $4.04bn in revenue, up around 50% from the previous year. Crucially, it generated more than $800m in tax revenue during the period.
That tax figure has led other provinces to take note. Alberta has long threatened to follow Ontario’s lead and could potentially do so this year.
Currently, government-owned PlayAlberta operates the only regulated online gambling site in the province, but the government has stated its belief that 70% of the local online gambling market is conducted on unregulated sites.
It is estimated that the online market could be worth as much as $900m, making it one of the largest in North America, and could generate hundreds of millions of dollars more in taxes.
