Ontario Regulated iGaming Sites Attract 91% of Online Players
TORONTO – More than nine in 10 Ontario online gamblers now use regulated iGaming sites, according to new Ipsos research.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The study, commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario, found that 91.1% of respondents who gambled online in Ontario over the previous three months reported using a regulated website.
That figure is up from 83.7% in 2025 and marks the highest level recorded since Ontario launched its competitive regulated iGaming market in April 2022.
The research also found that 8.9% of respondents reported gambling only on unregulated websites, down from 16.3% last year. Before Ontario opened its regulated market, the provincial government estimated that around 70% of online gambling took place on unregulated sites.
Ontario Points to Legal Market Growth
Ontario officials said the findings show continued progress in shifting players away from illegal or offshore gambling platforms. Attorney General Doug Downey said the results showed Ontario had become “an international leader” in building a regulated online gaming market.
Only four years ago, our government took action to bring online gaming into a modern, regulated framework that protects players, supports greater choice for consumers, and tackles the illegal market”
Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said the increase in regulated play showed that Ontario’s approach to online gambling expansion was working. “By prioritizing player protections and embedding responsible gaming tools into the market, our government is committed to providing a safer experience for players across the province”, Cho said.
More Regulation
Unregulated Site Use Falls
The latest Ipsos figures show a clear year-on-year decline in unregulated-only play. In 2023, 14.7% of respondents said they had gambled only on unregulated sites. That figure fell to 13.6% in 2024, rose to 16.3% in 2025, then dropped to 8.9% in 2026.
AGCO said regulated operators in Ontario must follow enforceable standards covering responsible gambling, game integrity and consumer protection. Players looking for legal options can compare licensed Ontario online casinos operating within the province’s regulated market.
Unregulated sites do not provide the same guarantees around player protection, information security or safeguards against criminal risks such as money laundering and match-fixing.
Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said the latest shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s regulated model. “The AGCO remains committed to addressing the residual illegal market and ensuring regulated operators meet Ontario’s strong regulatory standards”, Schnarr said.
Study Surveyed More Than 2,000 Adults
Ipsos conducted the 2026 channelisation study between March 30 and April 20, surveying 2,012 Ontarians aged 19 and older. The general population sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Joseph Hillier, President and CEO of iGaming Ontario, said the results show the province is continuing to balance consumer choice with player protection.
“Today’s findings are further proof that Ontario continues to strike the right balance of providing players the choice and protection they need to have confidence in the regulated igaming market”, Hillier said.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
Latest News
Responsible Gambling
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Ontario Regulated iGaming Sites Attract 91% of Online Players