Three Years On: Ontario Assesses Its Open Market Gambling Policy

Ontario celebrates three successful years of legal online gambling, seeing rapid operator growth, significant revenue increases, and ongoing efforts to combat unregulated markets.

April 4, 2022, marked a historic day for Ontario and its online commercial interests. Three years ago, the online gambling industry went live here, allowing access to sports betting, digital casino, and other associated platforms.

In April 2025, the gambling sector reached its three-year anniversary, and it was a good point to assess the impact of the decision and to identify its successes, along with any areas for improvement.

Digital Doors Open

An initial set of 13 operators were involved in the 2022 launch. Many would have already been familiar to Canadian players in other provinces where sports betting and casino play had previously been legalised.

After years of planning and consultation, the regulation and licensing of those operators fell into the hands of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The move was significant, both in Canada and in North America as a whole and three years on, it was time to take stock.

Significant Progress

The initial set of 13 operators has since received stiff competition. As of April 2025, there are no fewer than 49 licensed platforms providing online sportsbook and casino services to residents of Ontario.

Revenue has been impressive, so there was every reason to mark the anniversary as a cause for celebration.

“Happy anniversary, Ontario!” said Amanda Brewer, Senior Executive of the Canadian Gaming Association.

Revenue Figures

Whenever any region moves to legalise gambling, it does so for two reasons. Firstly, there is an obvious aim to increase revenue for the national or provincial coffers. The industry is worth billions of dollars worldwide, and governments want a slice of the pie.

There is also a drive to address any potential issues with underground gambling operations. By legalising the practice it’s hoped to reduce any need to seek out rogue operators.

In terms of revenue, legal gambling in Ontario has certainly proved a success. In April 2022, when operators were first allowed to offer their services, $1.1 billion dollars in cash wagers were staked. By February 2025, that figure had risen to $7.1 billion.

While February figures showed a small drop against January, the overall trend is a positive one. In terms of driving revenue, the decision to legalise gambling in Ontario has been a success, and there’s no sign of any slowdown.

Meanwhile, there is more work to be done in terms of unregulated gambling. At the start of 2025, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario confirmed that it intended to increase its efforts to stamp out what it referred to as the ‘Grey Market.’ Proposed measures involved limiting access to unlicensed platforms and raising public awareness.

Future Projections

Residents of Ontario are certainly not short of choice when it comes to licensed and legitimate gambling operators. The number of available outlets has increased from 13 to 49 in three years, and there is room for many more in this crowded industry.

Additional operators will attract more interest, and those revenues will continue to grow. Projections for 2025 and beyond are positive, so the three-year anniversary of legalised online gambling in Ontario is a genuine cause for celebration.