Since April 2022, the iGaming landscape in Canada has undergone a huge makeover. The province of Ontario was responsible for this momentous shift in the perception of iGaming in Canada after the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) approved legislation to permit online gambling in the province. A legislative framework was set up to provide the most secure platforms that offered the greatest variety to players who wandered through the virtual casino doors.
Since then, the iGaming phenomenon, which includes online casino action and online sports betting, has exploded in popularity and the craze is sweeping across the nation. Ontario has proven itself as a leader in this industry and has established itself as one of the best up-and-coming markets in the world. So much so that other provinces in Canada, including Alberta and Quebec are considering introducing similar legislation to benefit from the growing wave of interest behind iGaming.
Online slots proving popular
While there are a number of casino classics to choose from, such as blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, and slots, the latter is proving extremely popular, with online slots responsible for just under 50% of the total wagers placed on online casino games. Other games are by no means unpopular, but online slots have the advantage of variety. There are a reported 47 online casino providers operating in the Ontario province alone, and they all provide 1000’s of online slots games that come with different themes, main characters, slot reel arrangement, and from a playing perspective, different bonuses.
The bonus benefit alone is enough to prompt a player to shop around the online slots selection, with payout rate also a contributing factor in game selection. Free spins are an enticing currency and are offered out by most, if not all online casino providers. The vast number of online slots games gives it an advantage, but the advancements in game development ability for reputable game developers such as NetEnt, Playtech, and Betsoft, and sharpened sounds and game music are also vastly improving the online slots experience.
Improved accessibility is also a benefit. The ability to play online slot games instantly at LuckyKoala, amongst many other providers, is a huge draw for online casino users. However, if you are a general online casino fan, here is how games rank in the popularity standings in Canada. You might be pleasantly surprised.
1) Online Poker
2) Online Slots
3) Baccarat
4) Roulette
5) Blackjack
The statistics do not lie
The staggering rise of iGaming has been well documented and is represented by the impressive figures recorded since the activity was legalized in 2022. From C$1.26 billion reported in the first fiscal year (2022-2023), this doubled to C$2.4 billion in revenue in 2023-2024. While we are still in the third fiscal year, the signs are already promising with 1.2 million active accounts in Ontario alone.
Canada has always been a sports-mad country, and this is also reflected in the C$67 million contributed by online sportsbooks in year two. Ice hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis, Canadian Football, Formula One, you name it, plenty of Canadians follow it. With Esports emerging as another alternative to follow and bet on, there is now a wider range of sports available to Canadians.
A bright future
While sports will always be a constant in life, the rise of online casino games has captured the imagination of many Canadians. With more provinces set to follow Ontario’s example, there will inevitably be more investment in the industry and more online players flocking to the online slots category to play on the latest release. It remains to be seen how virtual reality play develops, and live dealer games could also provide boosts for blackjack or roulette, but for now, online slots are leading the iGaming charge in Canada.
