Ontario’s iGaming Sector Sets a New Handle Record

iGaming Ontario has published its latest monthly market performance report, outlining the local industry’s performance in September. Official data shows that online gaming in Ontario has reached a new all-time high in terms of handle, marking the second consecutive month of setting a new record.

Ontario’s iGaming Handle Reached a New Record.

In the third quarter of the year, the Canadian province saw online gamblers wager a total of CAD 8.5 billion ($6 billion) on gaming and bets, exceeding the August results (CAD 8.14 billion) by 5%. Despite that, however, the total non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) experienced a slight drop of 2% to CAD 329.4 million ($235.4 million).

In terms of active player accounts, Ontario hit a new quarterly record, reaching almost 1.2 million accounts, up 15% month-on-month. At the same time, players’ spending intensity increased as operators counted average revenue per active player account of CAD 282 ($201.5), which is equivalent to a decrease of 15% month-on-month.  

Online Casinos Continued to Lead

Taking a look at how the different verticals performed, iGaming Ontario said that online casinos continued to be the most popular form of online gaming. With a market share of a staggering 86%, it is hardly surprising that online casinos were responsible for CAD 7.3 billion ($5.2 billion) of the total betting volume. This marked a modest increase of 2% month-on-month.

At the same time, sports betting soared, experiencing a stellar growth of 39% in terms of handle. According to iGaming Ontario’s official data, sportsbooks took CAD 1 billion ($715 million) in sports bets in September alone. As a result, sports betting occupied a 12% share in terms of handle.

Additionally, P2P poker saw players gamble CAD 144 million ($103 million) for the period, down 4% month-on-month. The vertical had a 2% market share in terms of handle.

Casino Revenue Was Up, Offsetting Decreases in Betting and Poker

The revenue figures show similar comparisons, with the online casino sector reporting a market share of 84% with NAGGR of CAD 277.8 million ($198.6 million), up 4% month-on-month.

Online sportsbooks, on the other hand, saw their NAGGR reach CAD 46.5 million ($33.2 million), which marked a significant decrease of 23%, suggesting bettor-friendly results. The vertical’s market share in terms of revenue was 14%.

Finally, P2P Poker reported NAGGR of CAD 5.1 million ($3.7 million), which translates to a drastic decrease of 25% month-on-month. The vertical’s NAGGR market share was 2%.