Ontario iGaming Market Hits CA$3.2 Billion in Q1 as Registered Players Cross 1.9 Million

iGaming Ontario (iGO) has released its Q1 fiscal year 2026-27 performance report, revealing that the province's regulated online gambling market generated CA$3.2 billion in gross gaming revenue during the April-to-June quarter. The figure represents an 18% increase compared to the same period last year and marks the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth since the market opened to private operators in April 2022. Total wagers handled during the quarter reached CA$24.8 billion across casino, sports betting, and poker verticals.

Online casino continued to dominate the vertical mix, accounting for approximately 63% of total GGR at just over CA$2 billion, while sports betting contributed CA$980 million and peer-to-peer poker rounded out the remainder. Slots remained the single largest product category, though live dealer tables posted the strongest sequential growth at 11% quarter-on-quarter, aided by expanded studio capacity from suppliers operating out of southern Ontario. Active player accounts climbed to 1.92 million, with average monthly spend per active player holding steady at around CA$285.

Market analysts at Eilers & Krejcik noted that Ontario's channelization rate — the share of play occurring on regulated sites versus offshore alternatives — is now estimated at above 87%, one of the highest in any newly regulated market globally. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) currently oversees 51 licensed operators running 79 gaming sites, a number that has remained relatively stable over the past year following a wave of consolidation among smaller brands.

Looking ahead, iGO chief executive Martha Otton signaled that the regulator is preparing to publish updated responsible gambling benchmarks later this summer, alongside new advertising standards developed in consultation with the AGCO. Industry observers expect the Ontario model to continue serving as a template for other Canadian provinces, with Alberta's forthcoming open-market framework — scheduled to launch in early 2027 — drawing heavily on Ontario's licensing and technical standards.