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
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 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.
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.
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.
