Ontario’s regulated online gambling sector continued its expansion in January 2026, posting a year-over-year increase of more than 20% and setting a new monthly wagering record. The province’s first revenue report of the year from iGaming Ontario (iGO) indicated that total bets placed on licensed platforms reached $9.52 billion, 21.4% higher than in January 2025.
This surge generated $401.5 million in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) for the province’s 48 licensed commercial operators. While this represents a 22.2% rise from January last year, it fell 6% short of December 2025’s record-setting $425 million.
Online Casinos Drive Most of the Gains
Since Ontario opened its regulated iGaming market in April 2022, online casino activity has consistently accounted for the largest portion of both player spending and operator revenue. That pattern remained in January, with 86% of total wagers, or $8.18 billion, placed on online casino games. In comparison, $1.18 billion was staked on sports, and $156 million went to fenced peer-to-peer poker.
The month saw online casino handles rise 25.6% from the previous year, while sports betting showed a marginal 0.25% decline. Operators’ earnings from online casino games were especially strong, with NAGGR reaching $308.9 million, up 33.7% from January 2025. iCasino accounted for 77% of iGO’s revenue share last month, highlighting the faster growth rate of casino revenue relative to wagering volume.
Sports Betting Lags Behind
Sports betting revenue for January totaled $86.7 million, down 5.8% from the same month in 2025. January 2025 had been unusually lucrative for sportsbooks, posting $92 million, a record not surpassed until November. Overall, sports wagers represented approximately 22% of regulated online gambling spending in Ontario during the month.
Active accounts also hit new heights, exceeding 1.32 million in January, a 19.9% increase from a year earlier. Average revenue per account rose only 2% from January 2025 to $303, remaining below December’s peak of $333 per account.
Building on a Strong 2025
These January figures follow a record-breaking year, as Ontario operators recorded over $98 billion in wagers in 2025, generating more than $4 billion in NAGGR. With a 20% provincial revenue share, Ontario collected over $800 million in taxes from regulated iGaming last year, adding roughly $80 million in January 2026. The province has now surpassed $9 billion in monthly wagering for four consecutive months and exceeded $400 million in revenue in the past three months.
iGO’s reporting covers all 48 licensed commercial operators, managing more than 80 approved real-money gaming sites. The figures exclude the government-run Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG), which has not yet published its full annual report for 2024–25.
New Entrants and Expanding Markets
Additional brands are preparing to enter Ontario, including DAZN, which secured a license in January to launch DAZN Bet this year. Many operators currently active in Ontario are also exploring entry into Alberta, with commercial iGaming expected to debut there around June or July 2026.
Source:
“iGaming Ontario’s Market Performance Report”, igamingontario.ca, February 25, 2026
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