• Ontario’s iGaming market rebounded strongly in August, with total GGR growing 40.5% year-on-year to CA$334.8 million.
• The online casino vertical was the clear star, setting a new monthly record with CA$267.8 million in GGR and a record CA$7.22 billion in total wagers.
• Online sports betting also saw a solid recovery from the summer lull, with GGR up 28.4% year-on-year to CA$60.2 million.
• The regulated market in Canada’s largest province continues to show impressive growth, with the number of active player accounts rising to over 1 million in August.
• The strong performance of Ontario’s iGaming market was boosted by new entrants, including the launch of the Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand from DraftKings.

Online Casino Sets New Records in a Booming Market

Ontario’s regulated iGaming market has posted a near-record month in August, driven by an all-time high performance from the province’s dominant online casino vertical. According to the latest market data from iGaming Ontario (iGO), total gross gaming revenue ( GGR) for the month hit CA$334.8 million (approx. US$242m), a 40.5% increase year-on-year.

The total handle across all licensed platforms reached CA$8.14 billion, the second-highest monthly total since the market launched in April 2022. The strong results were underpinned by a new record for online casino GGR, which surged 44.4% year-on-year to reach CA$267.8 million. The handle for online casino also set a new high, exceeding CA$7 billion for the first time with a total of CA$7.22 billion in wagers.

The Unstoppable Engine of Ontario iGaming

The August data once again confirms the clear and consistent story of the regulated market in Ontario: the overwhelming dominance of the online casino vertical. The sector accounted for 80% of all GGR and an incredible 89% of all money wagered in the Ontario iGaming ecosystem during the month.

The number of active player accounts also saw a healthy rebound from a nine-month low in July, rising to 1.016 million.

Sports Betting Recovers Ahead of New Season

The online sports betting vertical also showed a strong recovery from the quiet summer period. GGR from sports betting was CA$60.2 million, a solid 28.4% increase compared to August of last year. The total handle for sports was $765 million. The performance is expected to strengthen further in the coming months with the start of the NFL and NHL seasons.

A Growing and Competitive Landscape

The continued strong performance of Ontario’s iGaming market is attracting new competition. The August reporting period saw a notable new launch, with DraftKings complementing its flagship brand with the introduction of its Golden Nugget Online Gaming casino platform.

More recently, on 5 September, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) licensed another new global operator, Absolutebet. Despite being a crowded market with over 50 licensed operators, the impressive and consistent growth of Ontario’s iGaming sector, powered by its world-class online casino segment, ensures it remains one of the most attractive regulated markets in North America.