In order to commemorate the opening of the province's regulated iGaming industry on April 4, 2022, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario commissioned the research. Ipsos conducted a poll of 1,850 Ontario individuals aged 19 and older between February 28 and March 13 to generate the study.
According to the study, 85.3% of those surveyed who had played online poker in the province in the previous three months did so on regulated Ontario online casinos. 19.5% of the total was gambled on both legitimate and illicit websites, while 14.7% of the population was still betting on shady websites.
Shift from Unregulated Sites to the Regulated Market
Tom Mungham, the CEO of AGCO, claims that the main goal in the first year has been to bring Ontario players away from unregulated sites and into the regulated market where they can take advantage of high operator standards, game integrity, player protections, and fairness, such as safeguards for responsible gambling. Even while there is still more to be done, we are delighted with the significant shift toward gambling on regulated sites that have already occurred and all that it means for players and the province.
The Ontario attorney general, Doug Downey, said that the first year of operation of the province's online gambling sector had been a terrific success. Since its debut in April 2022, Ontario's iGaming sector has replaced the previous, unregulated market, elevating Ontario to the position of an industry leader on a global scale, according to Downey. This robust, ethical, and competitive online gaming business is something we are very proud of.
Legal Online Casinos Available to Ontario
Internet gambling is illegal under the country's present gambling laws unless it is permitted by the federal government or a particular province. As a result, it is allowed to gamble at any licensed Canadian online casino. For gamers on desktop and mobile devices, there are several legal and regulated sites in Canada. To learn more, be sure to check out our guide to legal online casinos. We also included our Top 5 Ontario online casinos below based by size for added convenience.
List of Top 5 Ontario Online Casinos by Size
- BetMGM: Players searching for a user-friendly interface offering sports betting action and tons of casino games will be more than satisfied at BetMGM Casino. Newly registered customers can look forward to an exclusive $100 no deposit bonus along with up to $3,000 in welcome bonuses to get things started. BetMGM also comes equipped with 24/7 customer support, mobile compatibility and excellent banking methods, including Interac, Visa and Mastercard. Make sure to read our BetMGM Casino review to find out more.
- Jackpot City: Established in 1998, Jackpot City is a fantastic online casino providing a wide selection of games from Microgaming casino software. The brand is also renowned for it's progressive jackpots, free play option, and average payout rate of 97.40%. Newly registered players can take advantage of $1,600 in welcome bonuses spread across the first 4 deposits on both desktop and mobile devices for added convenience. Learn more about this operator by reading our all-inclusive Jackpot City Casino review.
- LeoVegas: Founded in 2009, Caesars Casino is a fully licensed operator and one of the first to provide its products and services to players in Ontario. The gaming establishment comes equipped with more than 300 games, including roulette, blackjack, live dealer, progressive jackpots and online slots. New players will benefit from a $20 no deposit bonus along with a 150% match up to $500 on their initial deposit. You can fund your account through an assortment of trusted payment methods, including Trustly. Make sure to read our Caesars Casino review to learn more.
- 888 Casino: 888 is an all-in-one gaming hub, offering online poker, online sports betting and an online casino to players across Ontario. Sign up for a new account today and treat yourself to a 100% match up to $1,500 when activating the Premier Welcome Package. The operator impresses with exclusive games and provides 24/7 cusotmer support along with a wide selection of reliable and trusted payment solutions. Check out our 888 Casino review before registering a new account in 2024.
- Ruby Fortune: Players looking for a luxurious online casino on desktop or mobile devices will not be disappointed with Ruby Fortune Casino. The operator provides $750 in welcome bonuses across your first 3 deposits and gives you access to more than 450 games from Microgaming. Established in 2003, Ruby Fortune Casino is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, provides a multitude of renowned payment options and includes excellent payout percentages on all games.
PlayOLG: Ontario's 1st Regulated Casino Site
Established in 2015, PlayOLG Casino is provincially run by the Ontario Lottery and Gambling Corporation, providing a legit, legal and regulated gaming platform for residents from Ontario. Available in both English and French, PlayOLG offers a strong selection of software providers, excellent payout percentages, mobile compatibility on iOS and Android devices, and safe and reliable payment methods for all your deposit and withdrawal needs. Make sure to read through our PlayOLG Casino review before registering a new account in 2024.