Ontario iGaming Market Hits Record High in January 2026 as Casino Wagering Outpaces Sportsbooks
Ontario’s regulated iGaming market achieved its highest monthly wagering handle on record in January 2026, reaching CAD 9.52 billion, a 21.4% increase from January 2025, according to iGaming Ontario’s market performance report updated February 25, 2026. Non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) for the month totalled CAD 401.5 million, up 22.2% year over year. Casino wagering dominated at CAD 8.18 billion, representing 86% of the total handle, while sports contributed CAD 1.18 billion and poker CAD 156 million. iCasino NAGGR hit CAD 308.9 million, surging 33.7% year over year. This performance underscores the widening gap between casino and sportsbook segments in Ontario’s maturing market, now in its fourth year since the April 2022 launch.
January 2026 Marks Record Wagering Handle in Ontario iGaming
January 2026 delivered the highest monthly wagering handle in Ontario’s regulated iGaming history at CAD 9.52 billion, up 21.4% from the prior year, as reported by iGaming Ontario. Non-adjusted gaming GGR reached CAD 401.5 million, reflecting a 22.2% year-over-year gain. The month capped calendar year 2025, which saw CAD 4.04 billion in total GGR on approximately CAD 100 billion in cash wagers. Active player accounts stood at 1.326 million by January’s end, a 19.9% increase year over year. Average revenue per active account climbed to CAD 334 by the end of 2025, the market’s highest on record and up 27% from previous levels.
Casino Segment Drives Growth, Outpacing Sportsbooks
Casino games accounted for CAD 8.18 billion of January’s handle, comprising 86% of total activity and outpacing sports wagering at CAD 1.18 billion, per iGaming Ontario data. Poker generated CAD 156 million. iCasino NAGGR rose to CAD 308.9 million, a 33.7% year-over-year increase. This casino-to-sports split continues to widen, more pronounced in Ontario than in most US states due to stricter sports advertising rules. December 2025 retains the single-month GGR record at CAD 425.4 million, tied to the holiday period, but January’s handle surpassed all prior benchmarks.
| Metric | January 2026 Value | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total Handle | CAD 9.52 billion | +21.4% |
| Total NAGGR | CAD 401.5 million | +22.2% |
| Casino Handle | CAD 8.18 billion (86%) | N/A |
| iCasino NAGGR | CAD 308.9 million | +33.7% |
| Sports Handle | CAD 1.18 billion | N/A |
| Poker Handle | CAD 156 million | N/A |
| Active Accounts | 1.326 million | +19.9% |
Market Maturity and Operator Landscape at Year Four
Four years after the April 4, 2022 launch by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO), the market supports 47 to 50 registered commercial operators across roughly 82 licensed sites. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation adds about 20% of total GGR via its government-operated platform. Operator churn signals maturation, with seven exits noted amid high compliance costs and an inducement advertising ban. Growth decelerated in percentage terms but accelerated in absolute GGR adds, from CAD 710 million in year three to CAD 840 million in calendar 2025. Fiscal year 2024-25 (April 2024 to March 2025) totalled CAD 3.20 billion GGR on CAD 82.7 billion handle.
Channelisation and Future Benchmarks
A 2025 Ipsos study commissioned by AGCO-iGO reported 83.7% channelisation to the regulated market, down slightly from 86.4% in 2024 but within survey margins. About 20.2% of regulated users access grey-market sites monthly. The government targets 90% channelisation by 2027, emphasising enforcement against offshore operators. Ontario’s 20% revenue share remains operator-friendly compared to the UK’s 40% Remote Gaming Duty from April 1, 2026, or the Netherlands’ 37.8% rate. Cumulative lifetime wagers exceeded CAD 200 billion by mid-2025.
