Study: 91% of Ontarians Use Regulated iGaming Sites

^{An overwhelming majority of Ontario gamblers have chosen the safe route with regulated online gambling sites. (Photo: Sean Pavone / Alamy)}

A new study conducted by Ipsos found that 91.1% of Ontario players are choosing to gamble on regulated iGaming sites in the province.

According to Ipsos, that’s up 7.4% from the percentage that were staying away from unregulated sites in the 2025 version of the study.

Ontario Officials Taut Success Four Years Into iGaming Regulation

The research was commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario.

That percentage captures the number of Ontarians who are playing on regulated online gambling sites, regardless of whether they also use unregulated options. However,  only 8.9% of respondents said they exclusively play on unlicensed sites. It’s all but certain that the vast majority of gaming is happening on the regulated market – a major change from 2022, when the Ontario government estimated that about 70% of online gambling took place on unregulated websites.

“These results are clear—Ontario is an international leader in upholding a safe, competitive, and regulated online gaming market,” Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey said in a statement. “Only four years ago, our government took action to bring online gaming into a modern, regulated framework that protects players, supports greater choice for consumers, and tackles the illegal market.”

The survey was conducted between March 30 and April 20, 2026. A total of 2,013 Ontarians aged 19 and older were polled, giving the sample a margin of error of +/- 2.2%.

This is the fourth year that officials have had Ipsos ask about the habits of Ontarian gamblers, and marks the lowest total of players who have reported wagering only on unregulated sites yet. In previous years, that number has ranged from 13.6% to 16.3%, making 2026 the first year with a significant decline.

“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 President and CEO Joseph Hillier said in a statement. “iGaming Ontario is committed to building a safe and robust marketplace for players and operators alike.”

Will Alberta Duplicate or Surpass Ontario’s Success?

Ontario’s experience will likely make Alberta's officials even more confident about the launch of its own regulated iGaming market, which is set to open on July 13. Like Ontario, Alberta has a slew of sites operating in a grey market that are now lining up to earn licenses in the province, including bet365, which completed its registration this week.

During the SBC Summit Canada last week, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally told attendees that his province would be an even more desirable market for iGaming operators than Ontario.

“We believe Alberta is entering this market with significant advantages,” Nally said during the conference. “We have reduced red tape, we’ve got a business-friendly environment, and we’ve got low corporate taxes. It doesn’t get any better than that, so if you like your experience on Ontario, you’re going to love your experience in Alberta.”

Nally also pointed out that Alberta – like Ontario – is committed to limiting unregulated gaming as much as possible.

“The best way to deal with the illicit market is to have a health, responsible legal market,” Nally said. “The more successful that market is, the harder it is going to be for the – as I call them – the repugnant operators that don’t embrace these safety standards to participate.”