Fewer Canadians report gambling today than two decades ago, even as the country’s igaming sector continues to expand, according to new analysis published by CasinoCanada.
The findings combine participation data from Statistics Canada with provincial financial reporting from iGaming Ontario to examine long-term trends across Canada’s gambling and igaming markets. Statistics Canada data indicates that 76 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over reported gambling within the previous year in 2002. By 2018, that figure had declined to 64.5 percent.
Despite this reduction in overall participation, regulated igaming activity in Canada has increased significantly in recent years. Ontario’s regulated igaming market, which launched in 2022, has recorded successive increases in revenue and wagering volumes since opening.
According to iGaming Ontario’s annual reports, the market generated approximately CAD1.3 billion in gaming revenue during its first full fiscal year of operation. That figure rose to around CAD2.2 billion in the 2023–24 fiscal year and reached approximately CAD2.9 billion in 2024–25.
Wagering volumes have also increased during the same period. Total wagers in Ontario’s regulated igaming market rose from around CAD63.2 billion in 2023–24 to approximately CAD82.7 billion in 2024–25.
CasinoCanada’s analysis suggests these figures reflect a structural change in how gambling activity is distributed, with igaming accounting for a growing share of overall market activity even as fewer individuals report participating in gambling overall.
The report also notes the role of digital platforms, sports betting visibility and provincial regulatory frameworks in shaping Canada’s evolving igaming landscape, as operators and regulators continue to adapt to changes in consumer behaviour and market structure.
Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: “What we are seeing in Canada is a clear paradox. Overall gambling participation has declined over the past two decades, yet the market itself is expanding rapidly. That suggests growth is increasingly being driven by deeper engagement among existing players rather than a surge in new gamblers.”
“At the same time, gambling has become far more visible through sports sponsorships, broadcast integrations and digital platforms. That creates an interesting tension between how gambling is perceived in public life and what participation data actually shows. For policymakers and regulators, understanding that gap will be increasingly important as the market continues to develop.”
The full article can be read here: https://casinocanada.com/blog/
