A major announcement from Ontario iGaming on the first full day started the Canadian Gaming Summit with a bang. The organisation issued a study created by Deloitte on the economic effect the sector had on the province over the previous year when it comes to online casinos, sports betting and poker, and the results are startling. According to the research, the sector had:
- a $1.54 billion economic effect
- Salaries accounting for $900 million
- Nearly 12,000 jobs
The research further speculates that all of those statistics are rising. The CEO of the Canadian iGaming Association, Paul Burns, shared that the economies of Ontario and Canada are significantly affected in his opening statement to the panel discussion focused on innovation, although he inexorably brought up the statistics from the study. Online-Casinos.ca takes a look at the significant impact the iGaming sector has had in the province for the past 12 months, including average iGaming salary, funds generated for the Canadian government, notable betting trends and more.
The Average iGaming Salary in Ontario Exceeds $100K
The survey also noted that the average pay for employees in the Ontario casinos online industry is C$103,000, which is C$30,000 more than the province's average earnings. The professions' specialised nature, which includes various STEM-related sectors including fraud services, tech-related fields, and other product developments, is partly responsible for the high salaries. The casino business is advancing the STEM opportunities prioritised by the provincial government, especially for women and indigenous people. Building on Ontario's infrastructure was one of the topics covered in the Deloitte study. Burns noted that the human capital, the ability to leverage alliances with high-value-add industries, the local tech innovation, and obviously the ability to establish the market in the first place.
$700 Million Generated in First Year for Canadian Government
In addition to boosting the GDP, that also pays rewards to the Canadian government. The analysis estimates that the sector produced $761 million in sales in its first year and that it will increase to over $2.2 billion in 10 years. Burns stated in his remarks that this research implies there is an opportunity for many to flourish, and by design, despite some claims that the industry is too crowded with 46 operators and consolidation is imminent.
According to the research released, every person in Ontario is reaping genuine advantages from the newly regulated iGaming sector in Ontario, whether they gamble or not, according to the Ontario Chair of iGaming, Dave Forestell. In Ontario, the iGaming sector is a significant economic engine, and together, it is possible to achieve the objectives of dominating the iGaming industry.
Attorney General Doug Downey claims that over the last year, Ontario's iGaming sector has gained recognition on a global scale for establishing a legal, safe, and competitive environment while bolstering the economy of the province and eliminating the earlier unregulated market. This unique Ontario-made market will maintain its position as a leader in this industry by fostering innovation, generating exciting new employment possibilities for employees, and offering participants protection and options.
Notable Betting Trends at Ontario Online Casinos
According to iGO, over 1.6 million players across more than 40 operators have made Ontario the most competitive iGaming industry in continental North America. The monthly spend per player, on average, over the past 12 months is around $70.00. Online slots took the bulk of casino wagers with 48%, while table games with a live dealer account for 32%. The remaining 19% was played on an assortment of RNG table games. With that in mind, we provided a list of RNG casino games you can enjoy at online casinos in Ontario on desktop and mobile devices in 2024.
- Slots: whether you are interested in classic slot machines, progressive jackpots, modern video slots, branded slots or Megaways slots, you'll have plenty of options while playing at legal online casinos in Ontario. There are thousands of options available, each providing unique themes, payline structures, bet limits and bonus features. If you want to learn more about these fascinating games of chance, make sure to visit our online slots guide for more information.
- Blackjack: The classic game of 21 has been around since the 17th century and continues to grow in popularity with each passing year. Online players will find a plethora of blackjack titles from some of the most renowned software providers in the industry. Apart from the enormous selection, you will also discover unique side bets that you won't find at any land-based casinos. Want to know more? Take a look at our online blackjack guide where you will also discover betting strategies to increase your chances of winning.
- Roulette: As one of the oldest games in existence, roulette remains a popular choice for online players in Ontario. It's one of the easiest games to play online and there's loads of incredible variations to keep you playing for hours on end. You can you're your skills on American, European and French roulette while making use of inside and outside bets. Want to learn more about roulette and how to increase your chances of winning? Visit our comprehensive roulette guide and play like a pro in no time!
- Video Poker: Players who enjoy video poker will be pleased to know that there are multiple variations of this game available at online casinos in Canada. Whether you are interested in Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus or Jacks or Better, you are bound to find a reputable brand that supplies these games on desktop and mobile devices. Our all-inclusive online video poker guide will provide video poker odds, RTP and house edge, rules, gameplay and more.
- Bingo: If you are looking for a casino game that provides a more relaxed betting experience, you can't go wrong with bingo. Players can explore several bingo variations, including 30 Ball, 75 Ball, 80 Ball and 90 Ball, among others. You can also learn more about how to play bingo online, game rules, tickets and prices, game patterns, odds and RTP, exclusive bingo bonuses and more when you read our online bingo guide. We even compare online bingo and offline bingo halls and the strategies you can use to increase your chances of winning.
- Keno: This lottery-style casino game is available at several Ontario online casinos on both desktop and mobile devices. There are also loads of unique variations to discover, including single card keno, progressive jackpot keno, power keno, multi-card keno and super keno to mention but a few. If keno is a game you would like to try online, we highly recommend that you visit our complete online keno guide. We discuss payout percentages, choosing a keno ticket, bet types, house edge, RTP, variations, bonuses and more.
Operators Agree that Ontario Requires a Local Approach
Along with Burns, the other operators on the panel emphasised how crucial having local contacts in Ontario was to their success and praised the talent pool in the province. According to Scott Woodgate, the CEO of BetMGM, there was a great need to place staff in the Toronto office. Woodgate also shared its dependence on technology via its ownership of Entain and, obviously, the MGM part of the company. In Canada, a significant portion of that omnichannel viewpoint already existed, and in their opinion, it was a critical necessity. Grateful that it was accomplished straight away with the AML crew, customer service, and being creative across every vertical, he shared that if it hadn't, he believes, it would have fallen behind the eight ball.