Ontario Regulated iGaming Market Sets January Record at CA$9.52B, With Online Poker Wagers Up 11%

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Samantha Doyle 2 hours ago

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January 2026 saw Ontario's iGaming hit a record CA$9.52 billion in wagers.
P2P poker grew 11% to CA$156 million, showing player demand.
Ontario's competitive market includes 48 operators and 82 sites.

Ontario’s regulated iGaming market opened 2026 with its biggest month on record. Official monthly reporting for January shows CA$9.52 billion in total wagers across online casino, sports betting, and peer-to-peer (P2P) poker, setting a new high-water mark for the province’s competitive model.

Within that total, P2P online poker wagering reached CA$156 million, an 11% increase month on month, signaling that poker demand is growing alongside the broader iGaming economy rather than being crowded out by casino-first product portfolios.

What the January Numbers Say About Ontario’s Poker Economy

A useful way to read these reports is to separate “wagers” (handle, or amount bet) from “revenue” (what operators retain after payouts, before other costs). Ontario’s monthly data is designed to track both across product categories, month by month.

For January, wagering by category was reported as follows:

Online casino: CA$8.18B (about 86% of all wagers)
Sports betting: CA$1.18B
Peer-to-peer poker: CA$156M

Poker’s share is smaller than casino and sports, but its month-on-month growth matters because P2P ecosystems rely on consistent player liquidity. When poker holds steady or rises during record-wide handle months, it is a strong indicator that the market is supporting both casual and regular play, not just one-time sportsbook spikes.

Competitive Market Structure: Lots of Choice, Regulated Rules

Ontario remains one of North America’s most competitive regulated iGaming jurisdictions by sheer breadth of consumer choice. iGaming Ontario’s public directory lists 48 operators and 82 gaming websites offered under its contracted regulated framework (listing accuracy date: 10 November 2025).

Regulatory oversight sits with Ontario’s alcohol and gaming regulator (AGCO), while iGaming Ontario manages the market’s operating framework and performance reporting.

Why Poker Players Should Care (Beyond the Headline)

For community end-users, record wagering is not just a brag number. In practice, it tends to correlate with:

More liquidity during peak hours: Higher activity usually means more table selection, better tournament prize pools, and fewer “dead lobbies.”
More competition for your bankroll: In crowded regulated markets, operators compete harder on rake structures, rewards, and tournament schedules. That can improve value for players, especially grinders.
Stronger consumer protections than offshore play: Regulation can offer clearer standards around responsible gambling tools, complaints processes, and compliance expectations, even if experiences still vary by operator.

Community FAQ

How is “peer-to-peer poker wagering” measured in Ontario reports?

It is the total amount wagered in P2P poker during the month, tracked as a distinct category in Ontario’s market performance reporting.

Does higher poker wagering mean operators are making more from poker?

Not automatically. Wagers (handle) measure volume, while poker revenue depends on factors like rake, fees, and game mix. Ontario reports track both, but the headline “wagering” record is about volume.

Is this data for all online gambling in Ontario?

No. The monthly market performance reporting covers eligible games offered by operators under iGaming Ontario agreements and explicitly notes it excludes certain other offerings.