Ontario Online Gambling Revenue Reaches CAN$307 Million in June

The Canadian province of Ontario recorded impressive figures in its online gambling sector for June. Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) amounted to CAN$307 million, equivalent to approximately US$226 million. This represents a substantial increase compared to the previous year, although it falls short of the record numbers posted in the preceding month of May.

iGaming Ontario, the regulatory body responsible for the market, released these data. They illustrate a growing and dynamic market that continues to expand, even if monthly fluctuations are a normal part of its evolution. June marked the first month in some time that did not set new records for deposits, following several months of uninterrupted gains.

Numbers and facts

The unadjusted gross gaming revenue in June was 27.9% higher than the CAN$240 million reported in June of last year. However, it saw a 9.2% decrease compared to the record-breaking May 2025, which saw CAN$338 million. Online casinos contributed the lion's share to these revenues with CAN$243 million – an increase of 41% compared to the same month last year. This underscores the continued dominant position of slot machines and table games in online gambling.

Interestingly, year-on-year online sports betting revenue declined by 7.9% to CAN$58 million. In contrast, online poker revenue climbed by 12.5% to CAN$5.4 million for the month. This indicates a shift in player preferences or seasonal effects throughout the year.

Players wagered a total of CAN$7.26 billion in June, an increase of 21.4% over the previous year. However, this was 10% below the CAN$8.07 billion wagered in May of this year. Online casino wagers increased by 25.2% to CAN$6.36 billion. Internet sports betting spend remained stable at CAN$768 million for the month, while online poker bets were also steady at CAN$132 million. The number of active online gambling accounts in June was one million, which was 20.9% ahead of last year but 5.2% behind May's total. This suggests a slight market saturation or that some players took a short break after the record-setting May.

Background

Ontario introduced a regulated online gambling market in 2022. Since then, the province has rapidly developed into one of North America's largest and highest-grossing regulated iGaming markets. iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), is responsible for overseeing and licensing operators. The goal is to ensure player protection while creating an attractive market for licensees. The continuous transparency and publication of market data by iGaming Ontario not only help the industry but also players to gain a better understanding of the market. The revenues contribute to Ontario's general treasury, enabling investments in public services.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, developments in Ontario serve as an interesting example of how a regulated online gambling market can evolve. Since July 2021, the German online gambling market has been comprehensively regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). This treaty has brought about many changes that prioritize player protection. These include a deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month across all providers and a stake limit of 1 euro per spin on online slot machines. These measures are designed to curb excessive gambling behavior.

German players should exclusively use online gambling providers listed on the GGL whitelist of the Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States (GGL). This authority is the central supervisory and licensing body for gambling in Germany. Only online casinos with a German license are legal and offer the full player protection guaranteed by the GlüStV 2021 and the cross-state gambling supervision system (LUGAS). LUGAS monitors limits and player behavior across provider boundaries. Providers operating only with licenses from Malta (MGA) or Curaçao are illegal in Germany and do not offer the same level of protection.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

The high revenues in Ontario demonstrate the potential of a well-regulated market. For casinos licensed by the Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States (GGL), this means that strict rules can also lead to a stable and lucrative market. The GGL is working to curb the black market and provide a fair environment for legal providers. This also includes proactively promoting responsible gaming. The GGL's approach, despite strict regulation, to give the market a chance to establish itself, is considered sensible in the long term by experts. The goal is to maximize the safety and protection of players while offering attractive and fair gaming conditions.

"The development in Ontario clearly shows that a strongly regulated market does not necessarily mean the end of growth, but rather lays a solid foundation for sustainable revenues and better player protection." - Lisa Lustich, Casino Editor at lustich.de

The German regulatory efforts, with their deposit and stake limits, are significantly stricter than in Ontario, where limits are handled more flexibly. Nevertheless, the core objective of both markets is channeling players into the legal market and protecting them from the dangers of unregulated gambling. GGL-licensed casinos must adhere to these strict rules. This ensures greater transparency and security. In the long run, this fosters player trust in the legal market.