Study shows over 90% of Ontario players opt for legal sites

(AsiaGameHub) –   A study ordered by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario has found an increase in the share of gamblers that select licensed gambling sites.

Canada. – Four years after the launch of regulated igaming in the Canadian province of Ontario, a study estimates that 91.1 per cent of players are choosing legal sites. This marks a rise of 7.4 per cent compared to one year ago.

The channelisation study was commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario and conducted by Ipsos. Only 8.9 per cent of survey respondents reported gambling exclusively on unregulated sites, which is down from 16.3 per cent recorded last year.

“Before Ontario’s competitive igaming market launched in April 2022, the Government of Ontario estimated that 70 per cent of all online gambling activity took place on unregulated sites.

Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, added: “This growth in the share of Ontarians choosing regulated igaming sites confirms that our approach to responsibly expanding the online gaming market is the right one. By prioritizing player protections and integrating responsible gaming tools into the market, our government is committed to delivering a safer experience for players across the province.”

Karin Schnarr, chief executive officer and registrar at AGCO, commented: “It is encouraging to see more and more Ontarians selecting regulated sites when they gamble online. This ongoing shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s regulatory model and its focus on protecting players. The AGCO remains committed to tackling the remaining illegal market and ensuring regulated operators meet Ontario’s strict regulatory standards.”

Joseph Hillier, president and CEO of iGaming Ontario, said: “Today’s findings are further confirmation that Ontario continues to strike the right balance, giving players the choice and protection they need to feel confident in the regulated igaming market. iGaming Ontario is committed to building a safe, robust marketplace that serves both players and operators well.”

iGaming Ontario rolls out new self-exclusion tool

iGaming Ontario recently announced the launch of BetGuard, a tool that lets people voluntarily opt out of all Ontario-regulated online gaming platforms through a single online portal. The exclusion blocks players from accessing existing accounts, creating new accounts, or receiving marketing communications from any regulated igaming site in the Canadian province.

BetGuard runs a dedicated website where anyone aged 19 and older can opt out of online gaming without needing to visit separate igaming websites individually. It lets players choose an exclusion term of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or a custom period. The tool also notifies operators not to send direct marketing to people who have opted out of the program.