Ontario's regulated iGaming market reached a 91.1% channelization rate in 2026, up from 83.7% the previous year, according to the latest Ipsos study commissioned by iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The survey, conducted between March 30 and April 20, 2026, gathered responses from 2,012 Ontarians aged 19 and older. The results coincided with another year of growth for the province’s regulated market, which generated more than CA$4.2bn (US$3bn) in gaming revenue from over CA$103bn in wagering activity between April 2025 and March 2026.
The proportion of players using exclusively unregulated sites fell from 16.3% to 8.9% year-on-year.
iGaming Ontario President and CEO Joseph Hillier said: “Today’s findings are further proof that Ontario continues to strike the right balance of providing players the choice and protection they need to have confidence in the regulated igaming market.
“iGaming Ontario is committed to building a safe and robust marketplace for players and operators alike.”
AGCO CEO and Registrar Karin Schnarr said: “It’s encouraging to see more and more Ontarians choosing regulated sites when they gamble online. This continued shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s model and its focus on protecting players.”
The province also noted that AGCO uses the Ipsos findings in its enforcement efforts against unregulated operators. Earlier this month, iGaming Ontario launched BetGuard, a centralized self-exclusion system available across all regulated sites in the province.
Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey said the results validated the province’s decision to launch a regulated framework for online gaming in 2022, which he said was designed to protect players, expand consumer choice and combat the illegal market.
The 2025 edition of the study had marked a temporary setback, with channelization dropping to 83.7% from 86.4% in 2024
