Canada has recorded record revenue across its provinces after a year of unprecedented growth in the online gambling industry. The news comes ahead of what promises to be an exciting year for the country's online casinos and sports betting.
Ontario Stands Tall
Ontario has seen the largest increases, but all provinces have benefitted from increased gambling activity across the country. This should not be surprising. Ontario is the most populous province in Canada, with over 15 million residents and the only one with a fully regulated market.
The province's revenue was $726 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $738 million in the second quarter—a 30% increase over the same quarters of the previous year.
In the second quarter of this year, from July 1 to September 30, Ontario residents spent $18.7 billion on wagers. This figure is a 31.7% increase yearly and a 1.6% increase from the previous quarter.
$16 billion or 86% of total wagers spent in Ontario were on slots, live games, table games and peer-to-peer bingo games. This accounts for $553 million of the $739 million revenue generated in the second quarter of 2024 in Ontario. $2.2 billion, or 12% of total wagers, went on sports betting. The remaining percentage went towards poker tournaments.
Canada By Numbers
In a survey of Canadian gamblers, only 3% claimed they spend more than $100 per month. Meanwhile, 43% say they spend between $1 and $20, and 14% allow gambling to use between $20.01 and $100 of their monthly budgets. However, the figures suggest this could be higher in Ontario.
The gambling website operated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) recorded revenue of $872.7 million. The ALC provides government-regulated gambling activities to the Atlantic provinces; New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Government-run platforms are less popular elsewhere, though. PlayNow, in the Saskatchewan market, only managed to make $5.4 million. For comparison, the population of the five Atlantic provinces is not significantly bigger than in Saskatchewan, which is certainly not enough to have had such a huge impact. Suggesting gambling is just not popular in the province.
Loto Quebec, Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) also recorded an increase in year-on-year gambling revenue. Loto Quebec achieved $403.9 million in revenue in 2023/24, a $13M increase compared to the previous year. BCLC reported $476 million in revenue. The BCLC also projected a 7% increase on the previous financial year by the time this one ends.
