Ontario Marks Two Years of Regulated iGaming with Milestone Achievements
Ontario recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of its open, regulated iGaming market, highlighting significant progress in player participation and economic impact. Attorney General Doug Downey marked the occasion with a statement emphasizing Ontario’s success in fostering a safer and more competitive gaming environment.
“This is another pivotal milestone in our ongoing work to provide players and businesses with a strong, competitive, and safer online gaming environment that meets consumer expectations,” Downey stated. He also acknowledged iGaming Ontario’s role in sustaining over 12,000 jobs in its first year and establishing itself as a global innovator in the gaming sector.
The province currently boasts 47 registered operators offering 77 regulated platforms for Ontario players.
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iGaming Ontario Study Shows High Player Participation in Regulated Platforms
To commemorate the anniversary, iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) released an IPSOS study showing that 86.4% of Ontario players participated in gaming activities on regulated sites in the three months preceding February 2024. This marks an increase from 85.3% in a similar study conducted the previous year.
Ontario’s regulated iGaming market has also gained international recognition. According to Vixio, a global regulatory intelligence firm, Ontario ranked sixth globally in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2023, ahead of U.S. states such as Michigan and New York.
“When talking about Ontario’s iGaming market, the numbers tell us a lot,” said Heidi Reinhart, iGaming Ontario Board Chair. “But what I’m most proud of are the countless ways that our government partners, operators, responsible gambling experts, players, and employees have worked together to help us create a world-class market that is Ontario-made for Ontarians.”
Challenges Persist as Unregulated Sites Remain in Use
Despite the successes, the IPSOS study also revealed ongoing challenges. 20.1% of online gamblers in Ontario reported wagering on both regulated and unregulated platforms, while 13.6% used only unregulated sites. Participants identified over 350 unregulated websites they had accessed, underscoring the need for continued efforts to draw players to regulated options.
Industry Updates: Design Works Gaming and Bluberi Expand in Canada
In related developments, Design Works Gaming (DWG) announced a new partnership with Caesars Digital to bring its content to Ontario players via Caesars Palace Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino platforms.
Meanwhile, Bluberi Gaming entered into an agreement with Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis to supply its top-performing gaming machines to casinos across Alberta.
Rivalry Reports Record Growth in 2023
Gaming and esports betting operator Rivalry published its preliminary fourth-quarter and year-end 2023 results, showcasing substantial growth:
- Betting handle: $423.2 million in 2023, up 82% year-over-year.
- Revenue: $35.7 million, a 34% increase year-over-year.
- Gross profit: $16.2 million, up 66% year-over-year.
Rivalry also highlighted improvements in customer metrics, including a 30% increase in average handle per customer and a record-low cost of customer acquisition, as marketing expenses dropped by 15%.
As Ontario’s regulated iGaming market continues to grow, these developments signal a promising trajectory for the industry, both locally and globally.
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