Canadian Gambling Revenue in 2025

Recent years have seen a number of seismic shifts in Canada’s gambling environment. Undoubtedly the biggest of these came in 2022 when Ontario became the very first of the country’s provinces to legalise and licence online casinos.

In a recent ruling matters have gone even further with the Court of Appeal pronouncing that gamblers in the province should be allowed to play with others from outside of the country.

With research showing that around six in every ten Canadians gamble in some form or another this is news that is set to be very well received. And with a number of other provinces such as Alberta soon to follow Ontario’s lead by permitting license-holding operators these are exciting times for the sector in general. More significantly, these are very good days to be a Canadian gambler with plenty more choices on the horizon.

The games people play

When it comes to the games that people choose to play in casinos, whether land-based or online, there’s one clear leader and that’s the slot. Ever since the very first game of this kind was invented in California in the late 19^th century it has become a perennial favourite.

The reasons for its popularity are the same the world over. It’s a game that’s quick and easy to play with no complex rules to learn. There are also countless themes to suit almost every interest or taste whether that’s harking back to the days of the Wild West or enjoying a game based on a favourite movie or TV show.

Also, some slots such as those with progressive jackpots offer the chance to win truly life-changing sums of money for one lucky player. Anyone wanting to try their luck on one of these games only has to look as far as the huge selection of online slots providers, fully reviewed by Casino.org and ready to play in Canadian casinos. Often these also come with hundreds of free spins as a welcome bonus to new players, adding to their great popularity. For many players, trusted review and affiliate sites play an essential role here, helping them navigate the crowded market by comparing bonuses, highlighting reputable operators, and offering clear guidance on which platforms deliver the best overall experience.

That’s not to say traditional casino games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat don’t also have wide appeal, as do craps and keno.

The rise of the online casino

While Canada has a good choice of land-based casinos to choose from, the real growth area in the last few years has been online. Driven by increasing liberalisation of the sector the benefits of this kind of gambling have certainly struck a chord with Canadians.

The combination of a wide selection of games along with the convenience of being able to play wherever there’s an internet connection has proved to be an irresistible draw. Most leading online operators also now offer the “live casino” experience in which games like blackjack and roulette are streamed directly to players’ PCs or mobile devices to capture the authentic ambience of the gaming room with real dealers playing in real time.

With the added peace of mind that online casinos are properly regulated by bodies like iGaming Ontario the future of the sector seems secure.

The gambling market in general

Overall, the total amount of revenue generated by gamblers in Canada was $15.59 billion in 2025 and this is projected to grow by nearly 3% a year between now and 2030. The $9.57 billion revenue from casino gameplay represents over 60% of the total. The majority of this came from Ontario where the market size grew by 129% in the years since it was opened. While, financially, online casinos represented the greatest single contributor it’s lotteries that attract the highest number of Canadians. Recent figures show that 65% of adults buy tickets.

Compare this with the 7.5% of the adult population who play table games in land-based casinos and the contrast is striking. One area that also shows a remarkably low take-up is the sports betting sector. Considering that many Canadians are such passionate sports fans the fact that just 19% bet is quite a surprise. That said, projections are that this is a figure that’s set to rise steadily as more and more sportsbooks begin to operate in the country.

Looking ahead

As already mentioned, other provinces like Alberta are actively seeking to set up online casino eco-structures to welcome both new operators and new players. The appeal is not simply to provide a properly regulated market.

The licence fees that operators are obliged to play and the taxes they generate from profits provide a very much needed boost to a province’s economy. So, alongside the many lessons that are being learned from the Ontario approach, the conditions are perfect for the expansion of online casinos. This means that we can expect to see the revenue figure continue to climb and climb, along with the number of Canadians helping to generate it in the future.