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.