When Ontario’s online gaming market opened in April 2022, the province already had a clear plan for how legal online gambling should work. There were rules, licensing requirements and a system for bringing private operators into the market. Instead of putting everything behind one government-run platform, Ontario decided to let different operators work under the same regulatory framework. That choice has shaped the Canadian market ever since.

The Law That Started Everything

The starting point was Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, which passed in June 2021. It gave provinces the ability to introduce their own systems for single-event sports betting.

Ontario didn't wait for long after that. The province launched its regulated market in April 2022, with the aim of bringing gambling activity that was already happening offshore into a legal system that could be regulated and taxed. There was clearly a market for it. People were already betting and playing online. The difference was that much of this activity was happening outside the Canadian regulatory system.

Ontario Welcomed Competition

Ontario's model stood out because it allowed private companies to enter the market. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario handles licensing and regulatory compliance, while iGaming Ontario manages the commercial side of agreements with operators. So companies can compete in the open market, but they still have to meet the province’s requirements. That competition led to operators having to find ways to attract players, through different games, promotions, payment options or a better overall experience.

It’s easy to see why top online casinos  will see this market as an opportunity to get attention. There’s room for plenty of operators, rather than just one platform controlling the whole market.

The Market Grew Quickly

Ontario started with 12 operators in April 2022. By the end of 2022, about 39 brands were operating. During that first year, operators generated roughly $1 billion in revenue from around $30 billion in wagers. Then in 2023, operators generated about $1.58 billion in revenue from $63 billion in wagers and the industry was also reported to have created or supported around 16,000 jobs across the province in technology, marketing, and compliance. By 2025, operator revenue reached $2.7 billion. And since the market opened, operators have paid about $2 billion to the province through revenue sharing.

Player Protection Came with Regulation

The growth of the market also brought more attention to how players were protected. Licensed operators have to follow rules covering verification, responsible gaming, advertising and anti-money-laundering measures. Players have access to tools such as deposit limits, time limits, reality checks and self-exclusion. Advertising rules were also tightened in 2024, with professional athletes removed from gambling ads and additional restrictions placed on celebrities who appeal to minors.

And in May 2026, Ontario launched BetGuard, a province-wide self-exclusion system, letting players exclude themselves from any licensed casino.

Final Thoughts

The clearest sign of Ontario’s impact might be Alberta’s move toward a competitive online gaming market in 2026 after previously operating through a government-run model. Ontario didn't just build a successful market for itself. It gave other parts of Canada an example of how private operators, regulation and player protection could fit into the same system.