Gambling Statistics Canada

Gambling statistics in Canada reveal a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry characterized by significant growth in online platforms and increasingly sophisticated regulatory frameworks. Understanding these statistics is crucial for players seeking safe gaming environments, regulators developing policy, and industry stakeholders capitalizing on market opportunities. The Canadian gambling landscape has transformed substantially in recent years, with online gambling emerging as a dominant force while traditional forms like lottery tickets remain deeply embedded in Canadian culture.

Overview of Gambling Participation in Canada

The Popularity of Gambling

Gambling is remarkably widespread across Canada, with approximately 75% of Canadians participating in some form of gambling. Among regular gamblers, 65% favor lottery tickets as their most preferred form of gambling, making it the dominant choice despite the explosive growth of online platforms. However, the gambling ecosystem has diversified significantly. Sports betting has emerged as a particularly dynamic segment, with 7.9% of gambling activities in Canada involving sports betting in 2018, though this proportion has grown considerably since then. The country now hosts over 19.3 million active online gamblers, with Canada ranking eighth globally in online gambling expenditure.

Demographic Breakdown

Gambling participation demonstrates clear demographic patterns. 63% of men and 57% of women report spending money on gambling monthly, indicating relatively balanced gender participation with a slight male lean. The youngest demographic shows particularly strong engagement with sports betting, with 85% of Canadian men aged 20-34 planning to bet within six months, reflecting how central this age group has become to sports gambling's future growth.

Geographically, Quebec residents are most likely to gamble at 69%, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba show the lowest participation at 50%. Ontario has established itself as the gambling powerhouse, reporting $1.4 billion in gambling revenues between April 2022 and March 2023, and housing 23,750 of the country's 67,000 slot machines.

Monthly Spending on Gambling

Canadians display consistent gambling expenditure patterns. The average Canadian spends $6.75 per month on gaming and gambling, though this figure masks significant variation across regions and demographics. Within Ontario's regulated online market, the spending profile is considerably higher, with approximately 997,000 active player accounts each spending roughly CA$277 monthly as of Q4 2024-25. This substantial difference reflects the growing appeal of regulated online platforms compared to traditional forms.

Trends in the Canadian Gambling Industry

Growth of Online Gambling

Online gambling represents one of Canada's fastest-growing industries. 45% of Canada's gambling industry revenue was generated from online gambling, with online casinos contributing most significantly to this sector. The market demonstrates extraordinary momentum: Ontario's online gambling market surpassed CA$22.7 billion in total spending as of Q2 2024-25, representing a 32% increase from the previous year.

Looking forward, the expansion appears poised to accelerate dramatically. By 2027, user penetration of Canada's online gambling market is expected to increase by 51%. Mobile gaming drives much of this growth, with Canada having approximately 11.8 million mobile gamers in 2023, expected to rise to 14.1 million by 2028, and the mobile gambling market projected to generate nearly US$1.96 billion by the end of 2025, growing to US$2.48 billion by 2029. The Canadian online gambling market is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 14.3% from 2025 to 2030.

Sports Betting Expansion

Sports betting has emerged as a particularly vibrant segment within Canada's gambling landscape. Ontario's sports betting segment alone reached CA$3.4 billion in bets in Q3 2024-25, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. This growth trajectory reflects strong public interest and demonstrates how regulatory changes can unlock significant market potential. The integration of sports passion with regulated betting opportunities has proven particularly appealing to Canadian gamblers, with single-event sports betting offering flexible wagering options that attract diverse player bases.

Regulatory Changes Impacting Gambling Statistics

Overview of Recent Legislation

Ontario has emerged as Canada's leading regulated iGaming hub, fundamentally reshaping the gambling landscape through comprehensive regulatory frameworks. The effectiveness of provincial regulation in Ontario has created a safe, accessible environment for players, contributing directly to the province's market dominance and the statistics demonstrating rapid growth.

These regulatory frameworks emphasize player safety through advanced technology and strict oversight, distinguishing regulated markets from the estimated 57% of sports betting revenue that came from non-regulated businesses in 2019. The shift toward regulation has created a measurable impact on industry statistics. The regulated online market now captures a substantial portion of gambling revenue, with players increasingly preferring licensed platforms that offer security protections and responsible gaming features. This regulatory advantage has positioned provinces with strong iGaming frameworks as primary drivers of national gambling growth statistics.

Future Regulatory Trends

Regulatory expansion appears poised to accelerate across Canadian provinces. Provincial governments are embracing iGaming expansion, recognizing both revenue potential and the opportunity to transition players from unregulated offshore platforms to safer, licensed environments. Future trends suggest continued provincial regulatory innovation, with additional markets potentially following Ontario's regulatory model to capture market share and protect consumer interests.

Challenges Facing the Gambling Sector

Problem Gambling Rates

Despite gambling's popularity, problem gambling affects a meaningful segment of the population. The Canadian Community Health Survey revealed that only 2% of Canadians older than 15 have a gambling problem, suggesting relatively contained addiction rates overall. However, this statistic masks substantial absolute numbers, as more than 300,000 Canadians develop severe or moderate-risk gambling-related problems.

Additionally, almost 3/4 of Canadians said problems associated with gambling have increased in their province, reflecting growing public concern despite relatively stable clinical problem gambling rates. Interestingly, 83% of Canadians believe it is up to the individual to control their gambling habits, indicating that personal responsibility remains a dominant cultural narrative around gambling behavior. This perspective underscores the importance of continued player education and accessible responsible gaming tools across all platforms.

Regional Disparities

Canada's provinces experience substantially different gambling landscapes. While Ontario dominates in most gambling categories, British Columbia leads in online gambling revenue, demonstrating that regulatory approaches and regional preferences create distinct market dynamics. These regional disparities reflect differing regulatory frameworks, population demographics, and cultural attitudes toward gambling. The variation across provinces suggests that national gambling statistics mask important local trends and that regulatory experimentation in different provinces continues to shape distinct regional outcomes.

Conclusion

Canada's gambling statistics reveal an industry undergoing profound transformation driven by online expansion, sports betting growth, and increasingly sophisticated provincial regulation. With 75% of Canadians participating in gambling and 19.3 million active online gamblers, gambling remains deeply embedded in Canadian culture while simultaneously shifting toward regulated, technology-enabled platforms. The remarkable growth statistics—including 32% year-over-year increases in Ontario's online market and projected 51% user penetration growth by 2027—underscore the industry's momentum.

Ontario has established itself as the regulatory leader, transforming its iGaming market into a substantial revenue generator while creating safer player environments through advanced technology and strict oversight. Sports betting has emerged as a particularly dynamic growth driver, particularly among younger male demographics, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. While problem gambling affects a manageable percentage of the population clinically, public concerns about gambling-related harms continue to rise, indicating ongoing challenges for industry stakeholders and regulators.

The gambling statistics in Canada ultimately reflect an industry at an inflection point—transitioning from fragmented, partially unregulated markets toward increasingly coordinated provincial regulation while simultaneously experiencing explosive digital transformation. The convergence of mobile accessibility, sports betting expansion, and regulatory stabilization suggests these growth trends will likely continue shaping gambling statistics in Canada throughout the coming years.

Related Posts

Ontario iGaming Reports Record Wagering Revenue in October

Explore the latest report on Ontario's iGaming market showing a surge in wagering revenue.

• Record Wagering Revenue
• Market Dynamics
• Technology Impacts
• Revenue Growth

LCB Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Gambling

Highlights from the Latest LCB Awards, Recognizing Achievements in the Gambling Sector.

• Award Winners
• Gala Highlights
• Industry Recognition
• Future Trends

Latest News