Canadian Gaming

Ontario iGaming Wagers Hit Record $9.88B as Casino Play Rises

Posted on: August 31, 2026, 08:47h.

Last updated on: August 31, 2026, 09:08h.

Written by

Mark Keast Mark is a long-time, seasoned journalist, as a writer and editor, working for several Toronto daily newspapers, then moving over to the digital arena, covering both sports and business. Over the past few years he moved over to the gaming arena, specifically covering the igaming industry in Canada for several platforms, as well as writing on sports betting.

Key Points

Ontario’s regulated iGaming market recorded CAD$9.884 billion in July wagers, up 4% from June
Casino wagers climbed 6% to $8.78 billion, accounting for 89% of the market
Hard Rock Bet launched in Ontario, marking the gaming brand’s first international expansion

Ontario’s iGaming market set a record with CAD$9.884 billion wagered in July, fueled by a 6% monthly increase in casino play.

The big iGaming news in Ontario in July was the launch of Hard Rock Bet, tied to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, which opened its doors in July 2025. Image/Hard Rock

World Cup betting also helped drive those numbers, with matches across Mexico, Canada and the United States from June 11 to July 19. Sportsbooks reported record-setting handle numbers on the tournament.

Total cash wagers increased 4% compared to June, iGaming Ontario reported.

Gaming Revenue Reaches $413.6 Million

Overall non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) in July came in at $413.6 million, a 3% month-over-month increase. NAGGR is the amount operators retain from gambling activity before deducting bonuses, promotional credits, taxes, fees and operating costs.

Active player accounts were at 1.365 million, up 3% from June. Average revenue per active player account was $303, the same average the market saw the previous month.

Active Accounts Climb 3%

Casino handle totalled $8.78 billion, up 6% from June, for an 89% market share. Sports betting handle came in at $992 million, a 4% decrease from June, for a 10% market share. Peer-to-peer poker came in at $116 million, down 8% month over month, for a 1% market share.

On the NAGGR front, casino was at $330.4 million, a 4% monthly increase, for an 80% market share. Sports betting came in at $77.8 million for the month, a 1% month-over-month decrease, and a 19% market share. P2P poker NAGGR was $5.3 million, a 3% increase from June, for a 1% market share.

The Ontario-regulated iGaming market currently has 48 licensed operators, with 83 gaming websites live and accepting wagers.

Hard Rock Bet Debuts

The big industry news in July was the launch of Hard Rock Bet in Ontario, combining sports betting with an online casino featuring more than 3,000 games, including top slots, table games, and live dealer content.

The Ontario launch marked the brand’s first international expansion, tying it to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa, which opened its doors in July 2025.

Mark is a long-time, seasoned journalist, as a writer and editor, working for several Toronto daily newspapers, then moving over to the digital arena, covering both sports and business. Over the past few years he moved over to the gaming arena, specifically covering the igaming industry in Canada for several platforms, as well as writing on sports betting.