Ontario’s iGaming Wagering Reaches New High of $9.59 Billion in March

(AsiaGameHub) –   In March, Ontario’s iGaming sector achieved a new milestone as licensed digital gambling platforms processed $9.59 billion in total bets across poker, sports wagering, and casino games.

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Key Highlights

• The total amount wagered on Ontario’s online gambling platforms hit a record monthly peak of $9.59 billion.
• Revenue for operators reached $387 million, representing a 13% increase compared to February.
• Digital casino games accounted for 82% of the overall revenue generated by operators.

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Online Casino Activity Drives Growth in Ontario iGaming

The majority of March’s growth was fueled by Ontario’s online casino sector. The iCasino handle increased by almost 26% year-over-year, producing $318.5 million in revenue. Consequently, casino offerings represented 82% of all operator income within the province’s regulated iGaming landscape.

Expansion continued across the broader market as well. The handle for March slightly exceeded the prior record of $9.52 billion set in January, with revenue climbing 30% compared to the previous year. While the $387 million in monthly revenue was 13% higher than February’s figures, it did not surpass the $426 million peak recorded in December 2025.

Comparatively, sports wagering showed less strength. Although Ontario sportsbooks saw $1.08 billion in bets during March—returning the segment to the billion-dollar mark—this figure was a 9% decrease from March 2025 and represented the lowest monthly total for sports betting since September.

Poker experienced a stronger month, despite its relatively small market share. Peer-to-peer poker set records with $183 million in wagers and $6.9 million in revenue. Despite these highs, poker accounted for under 2% of the total iGaming volume in Ontario.

The number of active accounts rose to 1.235 million, a 17% increase year-over-year. Nevertheless, March saw the fewest active accounts since September, a trend partially attributed to the closure of several platforms during that timeframe.

During the first quarter of 2026, residents of Ontario bet $27.8 billion on authorized iGaming websites. Over this three-month period, operators brought in $1.13 billion in revenue.

This ongoing expansion has maintained political focus on the advertising of gambling services. Bill 107, known as the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act, seeks to modify the Gaming Control Act of 1992 to prohibit licensed operators and their affiliates from advertising gambling across all media channels.

Proponents of the bill highlight public health statistics gathered since the market was regulated in 2022. Following the launch, inquiries to ConnexOntario—the provincial helpline for mental health and addiction—surged by 144%. Currently, approximately one-third of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 29 engage in online gambling, with one in four within that demographic reporting significant harm.

Opponents suggest that a complete ban on advertising might make it difficult for consumers to distinguish between regulated platforms and illegal ones. The European Casino Association has cautioned that in certain jurisdictions with stringent advertising restrictions, unlicensed operators capture over 70% of the online gambling revenue.

At present, the prospects for Bill 107 appear slim. While the Liberal Party introduced the legislation, they do not hold a majority in the provincial parliament.