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Four years have now passed since the province of Ontario made the landmark decision to open its own legal, regulated online gambling market. It was a historic moment for the industry, and a game-changer for the wider Canadian entertainment scene, and it’s incredible to consider how far the market has come in such a relatively short space of time. With many Ontarians now enjoying this popular activity, this world-renowned online casino market has had a fascinating wider impact and continues to shape the future of iGaming in Canada. To understand how Ontario’s online casino market has evolved in the last four years, we reached out to Casino.org’s Content Editor, Elsa Fiott. As a resident expert on their Canada team, Elsa watches all the latest developments closely, and offered us a strong insight into the ongoing impact of that historic moment back in 2022!
Hi Elsa! Why was the launch of Ontario’s online casino market so significant, and what are your thoughts on its evolution in the last four years?
There’s no doubt that Ontario’s decision to welcome private operators was a historic moment for Canada’s entire iGaming landscape. It was the first time that online casinos have been regulated on such a large scale in the country, and it’s understandably been the topic of much discussion ever since. I think the success of the market has really stood out in that time, and the figures coming out of Ontario have surpassed even the highest expectations of my fellow experts.
The numbers speak for themselves – the market has now surpassed $10 billion in cumulative operator revenue since launch, which clearly shows the considerable appetite for this entertainment format in the province and in the nation more generally. I also think Ontario's online casino scene is becoming hugely influential on other parts of the country, with places like Alberta now keen to follow suit. The growth has been absolutely remarkable, and that's also been a boost to the local economy through the creation of thousands of jobs and partnerships, and through increased revenue.
Through the oversight of the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) and iGO (iGaming Ontario), decision-makers in the province have clearly made player protections a priority. How successful do you think regulation has been so far?
Obviously there’s been a massive shift away from offshore sites, so that’s definitely been a key achievement. We're now seeing around 85% of players in Ontario reportedly choosing to play at regulated platforms, which is a huge improvement from the situation just four years ago, and that figure should hopefully only continue to rise. There’s now so many reputable, licensed and well-established platforms to choose from, which means that those looking for a new online casino Canada can easily consult our guidance at Casino.org and find a regulated site that’s best suited to their preferences.
Safety is obviously so important, and players in Ontario really don’t need to be settling for any less than the highest standard on the market. More generally, I think we’ve seen very solid and effective regulatory oversight from the very outset of this particular market. The AGCO and iGO have been instrumental in implementing mandatory responsible gambling tools and upholding crucial advertising and compliance standards, which has made Ontario a real leader for player protections – both on a national scale and more globally as well.
It’s clearly such a competitive market – how should players in the province approach the iGaming scene in Ontario? What do they need to look out for?
There’s around 50 licensed operators and over 80 gaming sites to choose from in Ontario today, which is a considerable leap compared to the situation four years ago. For me, the first thing is always safety. Players should be looking out for a verifiable license, a secure connection and reputable payment options. They should only sign up to play at online casino sites that are transparent and honest about their terms and policies, so if anything doesn’t feel right it’s important to take a step back. Always check out online reviews and guidance and do a little background research before you sign up.
Once that’s out of the way, it’s time to compare all the impressive promotions and bonuses available on this very competitive market. It’s important to remember that these sites are competing for your attention, and that’s creating some great opportunities for players in Ontario right now, so there’s no need to settle for anything less than a great deal. There are some excellent welcome bonuses and loyalty schemes available at the moment and we compare them all carefully at Casino.org, to help players start out on the best possible footing.
What will be the challenges for Ontario’s digital entertainment market in the next few years – and do you have any predictions about its future?
Ontario has become a global trailblazer when it comes to iGaming regulation, with many people around the world now looking to this province as a leading example. There’s a lot of pressure to uphold that reputation, but on the whole, I think the market will continue to perform impressively well. This is a competitive and well-managed online casino landscape which has scaled up rapidly over the last four years, so I’m pretty certain we’ll see continued growth and momentum. I'm anticipating a sustained and strong performance in terms of revenue and player protection.
There will be wider economic pressures to navigate of course, and continued challenges for regulators including continued offshore competition, but I think Ontario seems ready for anything! We’re also going to see a continuation of wider market trends, including more AI-driven gaming experiences and an increasingly personalized user experience. Players are also responding well to social and competitive games at the moment, so I think we’ll see a larger offering of these more communal and immersive formats – things like live dealer games and slot tournaments. The iGaming scene in Ontario will keep on being shaped by advancements in tech, and that’s really exciting!
