Fewer Canadians gamble than 20 years ago despite $82.7bn online betting boom

Fewer Canadians report gambling today than two decades ago, yet the country's regulated online gambling market is expanding rapidly, according to new analysis published by CasinoCanada.com.

The findings draw on national participation data from Statistics Canada alongside provincial financial reporting from iGaming Ontario to examine how Canada's gambling market has evolved.

Statistics Canada figures show that 76 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over reported gambling in the previous year in 2002. By 2018, that figure had fallen to 64.5 percent.

Despite this decline in participation, Ontario's regulated online gambling market has expanded significantly since launching in 2022. According to iGaming Ontario's annual reports, the market generated approximately CAD 1.3 billion in gaming revenue in its first full fiscal year, rising to CAD 2.2 billion in 2023–24 and reaching CAD 2.9 billion in 2024–25.

Total wagers also increased sharply, rising from approximately CAD 63.2 billion in 2023–24 to CAD 82.7 billion in 2024–25.

According to CasinoCanada, these figures point to a structural shift in how gambling activity is distributed across the market.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: "What we are seeing in Canada is a paradox. Overall, gambling participation has declined over the past two decades, yet the market itself is expanding rapidly. That suggests growth is increasingly being driven by deeper engagement among existing players rather than a surge in new gamblers."

"At the same time, gambling has become far more visible through sports sponsorships, broadcast integrations and digital platforms. That creates an interesting tension between how gambling is perceived in public life and what participation data actually shows. For policymakers and regulators, understanding that gap will be increasingly important as the market continues to develop."

The analysis explores how digital platforms, sports betting visibility and provincial regulatory models are reshaping Canada's gambling landscape.