Canadians & Online Gambling: 2026 Statistics
TL;DR — Roughly 19.3M Canadian adults bet online at least once in 2025, spending $13.8B — up 22% YoY.
Published May 19, 2026
$13.8BEstimated 2025 Canadian online gambling spendSource: Canadian Gaming Association, 2026
19.3MCanadian adults who placed at least one online bet in 2025Source: Statistics Canada / CGA, 2026
+22%Year-over-year growth in regulated iGaming revenue (Ontario)Source: iGaming Ontario Q4 report, 2026
63%Share of regulated single-event sports bets placed on mobileSource: iGaming Ontario, 2026
4.6%Adults showing problem-gambling indicators (PGSI 3+)Source: Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2025
$120Median monthly spend per active online bettorSource: Statista Canada, 2026
Market overview
The Canadian online gambling market reached an estimated $13.8B CAD in 2025, the first full year of nationwide single-event sports betting following the August 2021 legalisation.
Ontario alone accounted for roughly $3.2B in regulated iGaming revenue, with 49 operators live on iGaming Ontario.
Provincial split
Provinces outside Ontario continue to run gambling through their lottery corporations (PlayNow, Mise-O-Jeu, PROLINE+, ALC), while Ontario remains the only province with an open, regulated commercial iGaming market.
Demographics
Online bettors skew male (62%) and concentrated in the 25–44 age bracket. Mobile is now the dominant channel for sports betting at 63% of regulated single-event wagers.
Responsible-gambling indicators
Roughly 4.6% of Canadian adults exhibit problem-gambling indicators (PGSI 3+). DailyStash links to responsible gambling resources on every casino-related page.
Methodology
Figures aggregate published reports from the Canadian Gaming Association, iGaming Ontario quarterly disclosures, Statistics Canada household surveys, and Statista Canada's 2026 online-gambling dossier. All currency in CAD.
| Region | Spend (CAD) | Active adults | Mobile share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario (regulated) | $3.2B | 5.4M | 68% |
| British Columbia (PlayNow) | $1.1B | 2.2M | 59% |
| Quebec (Mise-O-Jeu / Espacejeux) | $1.4B | 3.0M | 55% |
| Atlantic provinces (ALC) | $0.4B | 0.9M | 52% |
| Rest of Canada + grey market | $7.7B | 7.8M | 64% |
Fact-check
- True
Single-event sports betting is legal in every Canadian province.
Bill C-218 amended the Criminal Code in August 2021, legalising single-event sports betting nationally. Each province sets its own delivery model.
- Mostly True
Ontario's open iGaming market has overtaken Quebec in total online spend.
Ontario's regulated revenue surpassed Quebec's reported online channel in 2024 and widened the gap in 2025; total Quebec spend including offline lottery still leads on some measures.
FAQ
- How big is the Canadian online gambling market?
- Roughly $13.8B CAD across all channels in 2025, with Ontario's regulated iGaming representing about $3.2B of that.
- Is online sports betting legal in Canada?
- Yes. Single-event sports betting was legalised nationally in August 2021. Ontario runs an open regulated market via iGaming Ontario; other provinces use their lottery corporations.
- What share of Canadians gamble online?
- Approximately 19.3M adults — about 60% of the adult population — placed at least one online wager in 2025.
- How many Canadians show problem-gambling indicators?
- About 4.6% of adults score 3+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index, per the Mental Health Commission of Canada's 2025 survey.