Ontario’s competitive iGaming industry leads the way for North America
Ontario’s thriving iGaming industry is an example to other provinces in Canada as well as the U.S. gambling industry
NORTH AMERICA’S iGAMING industry is one of the most prosperous in the world, and it has been revealed that online gambling in the province showed growth by reaching $18.5 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year’s second quarter.
This total covers everything taken by licensed sports betting, poker, and iGaming sites from July to September of this year. This is a 0.5% increase on the first quarter’s figure of $18.4 billion.
Ontario’s decision in 2019 to open up the online gambling market and end the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) monopoly on the market has proven to be a wise decision. It has helped to create a thriving and lucrative market where consumers can access some of the top poker sites in CA.
Casino and poker expert Daniel Smyth explains that further regulations published by Ontario in 2022 legalized all forms of gambling in the state.
This has helped operators establish a foothold and enjoy a record-breaking online gambling handle that has also produced growing revenue results. Quarter 1’s total revenue of $726 million saw 1.5% growth in the second quarter, rising to $737 million.
These figures come from the 83 licenced online betting sites available to consumers in Ontario. 51 operators run these sites which makes it North America’s most competitive online gambling market.
It is this competition that ensures operators keep up to date with the latest technologies and trends, leading to an industry that is very customer-oriented.
With so many online betting sites to choose from Ontarians can search for the ones that best suit their needs. Customer service is a priority for many of these sites they go above and beyond to keep their customers happy.
It is not only great customer service that is helping to drive the industry, and by having stiff competition between operators, consumers are the overall winners.
Being able to attract and retain customers in a competitive industry like online gambling in Ontario is a challenge that many operators face. In order to do this, they must ensure they provide their customers with the best iGaming experience available.
This means that game and software development is a major concern, with a lot of investment going into creating high-quality, immersive games for consumers to enjoy.
Having the best selection of games is a great way to attract and keep customers, as are the offers and bonuses on offer to new and existing customers.
These deals serve to attract customers and encourage them to play certain games or deposit funds into their accounts. Loyalty bonuses and tailored promotions based on customer activity are also excellent ways to keep players on-site.
The online gaming industry’s collaboration with the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) and the government has resulted in an expansive market that provides secure and responsible regulation.
Licensed operators within the sector must adhere to these regulations which protect vulnerable customers and ensure any queries are dealt with in a fair manner.
Some changes could be coming soon for Ontario’s online gambling industry, with Martha Otton, the outgoing iGaming Ontario Executive Director, still claiming that there is a lot of room for growth. While she leaves at the end of the year, her replacement is sure to carry on the hard work in continuing the industry’s development.
Ontario’s thriving iGaming industry is an example to other provinces in Canada as well as the U.S. gambling industry. By creating a well-regulated, competitive market, Ontario has been able to post record figures while ensuring it has created a safe gambling environment for consumers.