As of 2025, only seven states in America have fully legalized online casinos. While online sports betting has been more permissible – 30 states have fully legalized it between 2018 and 2024 – it’s fair to say the country is still taking a cautious, piecemeal approach.
Meanwhile, in Canada, regulation and legislation are beginning to evolve. Ontario, for instance, is the latest province to open up its online gambling market. In just a few years, it has built one of the most competitive and transparent iGaming ecosystems in North America.
Sure, legislation is just as sparse in this country as it is in the US, but the rise of Ontario’s iGaming sector, specifically, leaves a lot for American states to ponder.
A Breakdown of Ontario’s Record-Breaking iGaming Figures
So let’s take a look at the figures. In September, the flagship iGaming market recorded a record-breaking $8.55 billion in wagers, shattering all previous highs and marking a 5% month-over-month leap – and a 30% leap from September last year.
When you look at the market’s lifespan, this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. In its first year, Ontario’s regulated iGaming market – launched in April 2022 – recorded approximately $4.08 billion in total wagers, and $162 million in gross gaming revenue. Since then, the number of active accounts has risen, hitting a new high of 1.2 million earlier this year, with an average revenue of $282 per account.
These aren’t just impressive numbers; they underline how the market has quickly matured, not just in the size of wagers but in the breadth of participation, and it’s a strong signal of what an open-licensing, well-regulated iGaming market can achieve.
Which Player Behaviours and Market Conditions Drove the Surge?
As for what drove such a surge, several key factors converged to drive Ontario’s iGaming sector onwards. At the core of its success lies the open-licensing framework, which allowed dozens of private operators to enter the market under the oversight of the AGCO and iGO. As a result, the province created a highly competitive environment immediately.
Currently, players can be as picky as they want, finding the highest paying online casino in Canada, rather than being limited to a single government-run option, and achieving better returns and transparency by doing so. This level of choice – aided by platforms like Casino.ca, which aggregate reviews and provide comparisons – encourages more informed decision-making, fostering loyalty to operators and driving overall engagement across the market.
Player behaviours, too, have played a crucial role. Mobile adoption, for instance, has skyrocketed over the last few years, with more than 80% of all wagers being placed via mobile devices. Operators have subsequently capitalized on this, refining their mobile platforms and introducing slicker interfaces and faster payments to enhance convenience and provide a more seamless gaming experience.
This all helps to turn casual players into regular participants – users who might otherwise drift away if platforms were clunky or incentives weak, and yet are engaged enough to stick around and continue their journey. Beyond mobile accessibility, it should be noted how crucial personalized experiences have been. From game recommendations driven by AI personalisation to loyalty programs that reward consistent play, more tailored features make players feel valued and understood, which is another thing that increases satisfaction and, as a result, retention rate.
Could Ontario Serve as a Blueprint for US State Expansion?
As for what the US can learn from this, it’s all about creating a balanced, competitive digital ecosystem – one that prioritizes both consumer choice and operator accountability. Ontario has demonstrated that allowing multiple private operators to coexist under a strong regulatory framework can generate far greater engagement and revenue than a single model, with the open-licensing approach encouraging competition and innovation in ways the US hasn’t seen before.
Another critical lesson lies in mobile-first accessibility. As we mentioned before, the majority of wagers in Ontario are placed via smartphones or tablets, so states looking to expand their online gambling footprint should be prioritising this mobile-friendly design, as well as fast payment systems and more personalized user experiences.
Apart from this, Ontario has also shown the importance of responsible gaming infrastructure. The presence of mandatory deposit limits, clear advertising guidelines, and robust oversight has been crucial in building trust and fostering long-term engagement. So in the US – where regulatory approaches vary widely between states – creating a transparent, player-centric framework could reduce any concerns for players while simultaneously legitimising the industry, leading to higher participation rates and more sustainable market growth.
Of course, even if Ontario serves as a solid blueprint for US Casino state expansion, it’s going to look very different. The US isn’t Canada, and with population size and legalities being vastly different, the result of that same regulatory model could be very different, too. But the point is, Ontario has demonstrated a way forward. Something that US states can look at and cherry-pick in accordance with their own laws, regulations, and player behaviours.
Essentially, there are lessons to be learned, and as long as America observes and acknowledges these lessons, its future as an iGaming hub could be very bright indeed.
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