The Blue Jays Effect: Ontario Sportsbook Revenues Take a Hit

Posted on: October 29, 2025, 09:53h. 

Last updated on: October 29, 2025, 10:13h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • September revenue in sports betting was down 23% compared to August
  • Total cash wagers in Ontario were up 5%
  • Blue Jays betting and the start of the NFL season impacted betting numbers

As we’ve reported several times, Ontario sportsbooks have talked about how Canadian bettors wager hard on their favorite home teams. They lead with their hearts, and that’s led to a big Jays liability.

Fans celebrate during a watch party at Rogers Centre in Toronto following a home run by Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. (Image: Lance McMillan/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Ontario’s iGaming market financial results for September reflected that, according to data released by iGaming Ontario.

With the start of the NFL season, the run-up to the NHL season, and the Blue Jays playoff push, Ontario sportsbooks saw more than $1 billion in cash wagers (CA$1.061 billion, for a 12% market share) for the first time since April, an increase of 39% compared to August. 

However, gross revenue was another story at CA$46.5 million — down 23% month over month (14% market share).

Ontario igaming results for September, in Canadian dollars, according to iGaming Ontario. (Image: IGaming Ontario)

Casino is the Big Story

The Blue Jays’ riveting run to an American League East Division title (then wins in the American League Division Series over the Yankees and American League Championship Series over the Mariners), after largely being counted out at the beginning of the season, was a big reason for that. 

Overall, the Ontario market generated CA$8.55 billion in total cash wagers in September, a 5% month-over-month increase, with revenue at CA$329.4 million (a 2% month-over-month drop).

Increase in Player Accounts

The other big story on the Ontario igaming front was the continued domination of casino – CA$7.343 billion in total cash wagers, a 2% month-over-month increase, for a market share of 86%. Casino saw CA$277.8 million in revenue, a 4% increase compared to August, and an 84% market share.

The market also saw a 15% increase in active player accounts. The average revenue per active player account was down 15% compared to August, however, at $282.

P2P poker generated CA$144 million in cash wagers, a 4% decrease from August, and CA$5.1 million in revenue, a 25% month-over-month decrease, from August, for a 2% market share.