A Study Finds That Most People In Ontario Who Gamble Online Prefer Regulated Market Sites

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) paid for the study to mark the second anniversary of the regulated market in the province. It found that 86.4% of Ontarians who bet online in the last three months used regulated sites, which is a little more than last year.

But the Ipsos study also found that 13.6% of those who answered only used unregulated sites, and about 20% of those who used controlled sites also bet on unregulated ones.

“Participants identified over 350 unregulated websites they’ve used, underscoring the numerous illicit betting options available to Ontarians and the importance of ongoing efforts to steer players toward Ontario’s safer, legal gaming options” the AGCO said in a release.

According to Ontario’s most recent budget, iGaming Ontario will bring in $162 million for the fiscal year that finished, and that number will rise to $174 million by the end of this year.

• Most of the bets made with iGaming Ontario companies are on casino games like slots and bingo, which make up about 82% of the market.
• Over the past year, 27% of bets on table games were on blackjack.
• Roulette came in second with 9%, and baccarat came in third with 8%.

When it came to betting on sports, basketball came out on top, then football, hockey, baseball, and soccer. Bets can also be placed on cricket, table tennis, combat sports, curling, and sumo wrestling through controlled sites.

iGaming Ontario says that over $1.5 billion was bet on peer-to-peer poker last year, even though it is the smallest group.

Ontario is still the only Canadian state that has an open iGaming market that is controlled. For people in other parts of the country, websites run by the provinces handle sports betting and online casino gaming.

The Ipsos study also found that about one-third of people living in Ontario have gambled online in the past year, and that men made up 65% of those who gambled in the last three months.

The polling industry’s governing body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says that online polls can’t have a range of error because they don’t pick people at random from the public.

Author (Senior Content Strategist)

Emma Larsson

6 Articles

Emma Larsson, the Senior Content Strategist at Rather Dashing Games, brings over 8 years of experience in the online gambling industry. Her journey at Rather Dashing Games began as a Copywriter in 2014, advancing to Content Specialist in 2018, before assuming her current role in 2022. Emma’s diverse background in content creation, SEO, and player engagement enables her to develop and execute effective content strategies that resonate with Canadian readers. Her deep understanding of player needs and exceptional analytical skills make her an invaluable asset to the team.

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