Ontario iGaming Milestone: Over 90% of Players Now Choosing Regulated Sites
Ontario’s regulated iGaming business has struck a significant new milestone, with a fresh Ipsos poll indicating that 91.1% of local gamers now stick to legal sites—a strong 7.4% jump over last year.
Usage of Unregulated iGaming Sites Declines
According to the Ipsos poll, commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario, just 8.9 per cent of respondents reported playing only on unregulated sites, a substantial decline from 16.3 per cent last year.
Prior to the debut of Ontario’s competitive igaming industry in April 2022, the Ontario government estimated that 70% of online gaming was taking place on unregulated websites.
"This increase in Ontarians choosing regulated igaming sites proves that we’ve taken the right approach to responsibly expanding the online gaming market,” said Stan Cho Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
“By prioritizing player protections and embedding responsible gaming tools into the market, our government is committed to providing a safer experience for players across the province,” Cho added.
Cho made remarks about the Ipsos survey this morning to kick off Day 2 of SBC Summit Canada, the gaming conference in Toronto.
As Cho, and other industry experts, have noted repeatedly, the regulated Ontario market is founded on clear, enforceable standards that require operators in incorporate significant consumer protections, such as game integrity and responsible gaming safeguards.
Dealing with the Illegal Market
BetGuard, a new central igaming self-exclusion platform, was launched by iGaming Ontario just last week. Instead of visiting individual iGaming sites, this technology enables users to freely self-exclude from all licensed iGaming sites throughout the province for a certain amount of time using a single interface.
“It’s encouraging to see more and more Ontarians choosing regulated sites when they gamble online,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
“This continued shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s model and its focus on protecting players. The AGCO remains committed to addressing the residual illegal market and ensuring regulated operators meet Ontario’s strong regulatory standards,” Schnarr added.
44 Operators with Licenses
There are now 76 gaming websites and 44 licensed operators in the Ontario igaming sector, according to the iGaming Ontario website.
"These results are clear—Ontario is an international leader in upholding a safe, competitive, and regulated online gaming market,” said Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario. “Only four years ago, our government took action to bring online gaming into a modern, regulated framework that protects players, supports greater choice for consumers, and tackles the illegal market.
“To date, we’re proud to see Ontario’s world-class online gaming model continue to support jobs, innovation, and economic activity across the province,” Downey added.
