Online gambling is experiencing one of its finest hours in Canada. This is especially the case for the online casino industry, although casinos and casino gaming overall are enjoying immense popularity and received a projection of 6.71 billion US dollars in 2025, according to data on the website of consumer and market data company Statista. Below is a look at how the Canadian igaming market has performed, including developments that have contributed to this, plus some consideration of online casinos versus other types of online gambling.
Experiencing the good times
The igaming sector is one of the fastest growing in the Canadian economy, partly because it’s part of a thriving wider gaming industry. Consumers in Canada have long had an appetite for gaming, and Canadian cities such as Vancouver offer amazing opportunities for embarking on a career in the industry or starting a business in it. The Canadian government is keen to support research and innovation in tech.
Ontario leading the pack
One of the other reasons for igaming’s success in Canada is the move towards provincially regulated markets. Ontario is the trendsetter in this regard, having set up its own market in April 2022 so that private operators could enter the market, and shifting away from state-sponsored companies being the only officially legal igaming service providers in provinces and territories.
Ontario’s bold move has generated billions in revenue. Not only that, however, but it has encouraged other provinces to push for greater igaming freedom. In Quebec, there have been calls to open the market to private operators, and Alberta is also trying to develop its own market.
Why are people loving online casino gaming so much?
iGaming is far safer than it was just a few years ago. According to Jemma McColgan of Casino.org, players can visit some of the best online casinos in Canada and not be afraid of a run-in with the law or being cheated by unscrupulous operators, and with 105+ legal sites across 10 provinces, there’s something for everyone. Service providers must meet certain standards, an obligation which has improved the quality of the games, otherwise they will be left behind.
The accessibility of online casinos also means players can enjoy casino games in complete comfort. This coupled with the greater freedom of choice has placed casinos in regulated igaming markets in a winning position. The promotions and offers the casinos are making available to players are only making things even better for both the players and the casinos.
Online casinos’ accessibility isn’t only encouraging more people to take to casino gaming because it’s convenient. It’s helping them to find new audiences. The availability of igaming on mobile means it’s attracting attention from new audiences. Not only are avid gaming fans jumping onto their mobile devices, but also novices, drawn by the characteristics that attract people to igaming on computers.
Online casino gaming versus the rest
Online casinos are highly profitable and outdo traditional casinos because they don’t have to allocate as much money to staff salaries and the expenses of running a casino, including the purchase of the property itself and the gaming equipment.
Online casinos are also more profitable than other forms of online gambling services. One of the big reasons for this is that large online casino operators often own several brands and can provide more services than operators who have one site or only focus on one area of igaming, such as sports betting or poker.
Size isn’t the only reason. Online casinos are extremely good at adopting technology and responding to trends, whether in technology or in the market itself. They’re also highly effective at marketing themselves, whether through content marketing and internal promotions to existing players or by advertising to appeal to potential new ones.
Slots catapulting profitability for online casinos
Since slots are the most popular type of casino game by far, they provide the largest share of an online casino’s revenue. Their ease of play and wide variety make them a huge hit.
But don’t rule out table games
The overwhelming popularity of slots doesn’t mean online casinos should provide them and nothing else. Table games contribute to revenue and although the number of enthusiasts is much lower compared to the number of slots players, they can be big moneymakers for some casinos. Poker draws enthusiasts from all over the world, who will encounter people who share their passion on the site.
… Or sports betting
One of the exceptions to the rule of online casinos being the most profitable internet gambling business is when the casino owns a betting business. Sports betting is incredibly popular. The market is worth billions of dollars and service provision in it can be a better source of income if the casino already owns a betting business.
The igaming market has performed brilliantly in Canada, where legalization and new regulation are helping it to take off. These combined with their variety and accessibility is enabling online casinos to become a stellar success.
