Revenue figures for legalized sports betting in Canada’s most populous province were a bit surprising.
If not staggering – and safer.
In the first year of legalized operations, Ontario totaled approximately $35.6 billion in total bets, according to iGaming Ontario.
Cole Rush explores how the Ontario sports betting market has performed in its first year, and what the industry can expect going forward. https://t.co/urs1ntqqYl
— iGB North America (@iGBNorthAmerica) April 4, 2023
Martha Otton: ‘I Want To Thank The Players’
A government agency, iGaming Ontario released the data, including $1.4 billion in total gaming revenue, Tuesday, the first anniversary of legalized internet gambling going live in Ontario.
“Every player who places a wager with a legal operator is doing so in a safe, regulated, and protected environment,” iGaming Ontario Executive Director Martha Otton said via press release. “I want to thank the players, our 40-plus operators and our government partners for placing their trust in us.
“Together we can help this market continue its strong performance.”
Prior to regulating the online sports wagering market, Ontario lawmakers estimated 70 percent of online wagers were executed with “grey” operators. Those sources were deemed “grey” because some were licensed in another country or province, but not in Ontario.
“Ontario’s igaming market has displaced the pre-existing unregulated market and made Ontario a recognized leader internationally in this industry since its launch in April 2022,” Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey said in a press release. “We are truly proud of this strong, responsible, competitive online gaming model.”
What do serious bettors @sharpedgepicks, @SiscosKid, @DawnLupul, @longleysunsport and @gocashking think of Ontario’s online sports betting industry one year after it launched? The reviews were decidedly mixed.https://t.co/sFLMmscfQB
— Dave Briggs (@dbriggs1969) April 3, 2023
