Canada’s iGaming industry is going through big changes. Recent years have seen some provinces overhaul their legislation in response to evolving consumer demands and changing economic conditions. The result is that things are slowly but surely opening up for consumers, with Ontario offering its residents access to licensed international operators, and Alberta soon to follow.
During periods of change like these, consumers can be left caught in the middle. With Canada’s patchwork approach to gambling legislation in mind, it’s little wonder that players might not always feel they’re on steady ground when choosing online platforms to play at.
To glean some clarity on the issues faced by Canadian online casino players, we spoke to expert Chris Jonat. During the last fifteen years, Jonat has worked with major operators and start-ups before moving into affiliates. With all that experience, he was an ideal fit to talk about how the industry has developed, and what’s next for Canadian iGaming.
First of all, could you give our readers a rundown on the current state of affairs in Canada’s iGaming scene?
The first thing to understand is that there is no official ‘national license’. That’s because iGaming laws operate on a provincial level. The federal Criminal Code only allows gambling when it’s conducted and managed by a provincial authority. As a result, it’s up to provinces to decide what kind of iGaming market they want.
At the moment, Canada only has one truly open market, and that’s in Ontario. Alberta is well on the way to launching its own competitive market later this summer. Every other province maintains a government-run monopoly through its lottery corporation. British Columbia, Québec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic provinces all offer legal online casino and sports betting exclusively through their own platforms, with no pathway for private operators.
The three northern territories provide only limited lottery products and no dedicated online casino framework. As a result, Canada’s legal environment is a mix of one liberalized market and a broad set of tightly controlled provincial monopolies, with offshore operators continuing to exist in a grey zone outside any formal licensing.
What makes Ontario’s open market different from those of other provinces?
Ontario’s open iGaming market stands apart because it is the only province that has built a regulatory framework designed for competition rather than a single government‑run platform. It created a dual‑entity system in which AGCO regulates, and iGaming Ontario conducts and manages gaming. Meanwhile, private operators run their own brands, technology, and customer experiences.
The result is a market that looks more like a European licensing regime than a Canadian lottery model. Players benefit from a wider selection of platforms, games, and bonuses. In contrast, the offerings available in other provinces are limited in both variety and quality. Many Canadians prefer to use offshore casinos instead of their local government-run platform for this reason.
What is the latest update in Alberta?
Alberta’s regulated sports betting and iGaming market is due to launch on July 13th. Dale Nally, the minister in charge of the regulatory overhaul, recently said that they were considering a slightly earlier launch, but settled on the July date at the request of operators. A lot of planning goes into the process, so understandably, everyone wants to be 100% ready on the day.
This has all been rumbling along for several years now, with a market launch suggested as far back as 2024. Bill 48 was passed in May 2025, setting Alberta on its present course. Since then, ministers have been busy building up infrastructure to make the market safe, secure, and fair for players. At the moment, 28 operators have confirmed their interest in obtaining Alberta licenses, and many more will likely join.
What are the benefits of an open iGaming market?
At this point, we know that the government monopoly model doesn’t really work. The quality just isn’t there, and so most players prefer to use offshore platforms. That isn’t inherently a problem if it is done safely. However, it does leave consumers vulnerable to scams and less scrupulous sites. That’s why the role of affiliate sites like Casino.org has become so important in terms of enabling players to make safe and informed choices.
In contrast, a regulated open market gives players the choice and quality they deserve as well as robust consumer protections. The local regulator holds operators to account, ensuring high standards and the safety of players. Healthy competition between operators also keeps the standards of offerings up.
For the province, there are significant economic benefits. When players use offshore casinos, provinces lose out on potential revenue. Ontario’s model captures that revenue and directs it toward public services, where it helps everyone. While online casinos in Canada don’t need to tether themselves to local land-based casinos, iGaming does help to create new local employment opportunities.
Do you think that any other provinces will follow in the footsteps of Ontario and Alberta?
So far, we can only speculate, but it seems likely that some of the bigger provinces will follow suit. Ontario has proven that a competitive market can be safe, taxable, and appealing to residents. Other provinces are watching closely, but each faces its own political, economic, and institutional barriers.
Let’s take BC and Québec, for example. Both provinces have strong, entrenched lottery corporations that generate reliable revenue and have little incentive to open their markets. However, both are facing growing pressure as offshore play continues to erode the relevance of their monopolies.
The Atlantic provinces are even less likely to liberalize in the near term, because their populations are small and the ALC model is deeply integrated across four jurisdictions. Manitoba and Saskatchewan sit somewhere in the middle, acknowledging the impact of offshore casinos but not yet displaying the political appetite to restructure their systems.
The most realistic scenario, in my mind, is a slow and staggered approach. Provinces will be keenly watching how things shake down in Alberta. If it can demonstrate how a competitive model can coexist with responsible gambling priorities, that could move the conversation on significantly. One or two mid-sized provinces may well follow, then.
Ontario didn’t just open up its market; it changed the game. Other provinces are eventually going to have to respond, even if that takes time.
