Last Updated: April 2026
Canadian Sports Betting Statistics 2026: National Market Size & Provincial Breakdown
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Canada's sports betting market was fundamentally transformed by Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, which came into force on August 27, 2021. The legislation amended the Criminal Code to permit single-event sports wagering across Canada, ending decades of restrictions that limited legal betting to parlay-only formats. This page aggregates national sports betting statistics from the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), provincial gaming corporations, iGaming Ontario, Statistics Canada, and H2 Gambling Capital, covering market size, provincial comparisons, consumer demographics, and responsible gambling data through 2025–26.
National Market Size
Canada's total regulated sports betting market — encompassing provincial gaming corporations and Ontario's private-sector iGO model — has grown rapidly since single-event legalization in 2021, making it one of the fastest-growing wagering markets in the G7.
$16.5B
Estimated total Canadian regulated sports betting handle, 2024–25 (all provinces)
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), State of the Industry Report, 2025
$1.73B
Estimated total Canadian regulated sports betting GGR (gross gaming revenue), 2024–25
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), State of the Industry Report, 2025
27%
Year-over-year growth in Canadian regulated sports betting GGR, 2024–25 vs 2023–24
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), State of the Industry Report, 2025
~$4B
Estimated additional annual sports betting handle flowing to unregulated offshore operators from Canadian bettors — not captured in regulated figures
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Unregulated Market Analysis, 2025
~$20.5B
Total estimated Canadian sports betting market (regulated + unregulated), 2024–25
— H2 Gambling Capital, Canada Total Market Estimates, 2025
Top 15
Canada ranks among the top 15 sports betting markets globally by GGR, ahead of many larger-population countries with more restrictive frameworks
— H2 Gambling Capital, Global Sports Betting Market Rankings, 2025
Bill C-218 Impact
Bill C-218, which received Royal Assent on June 29, 2021 and came into force August 27, 2021, was the most significant change to Canadian sports betting law since the original Criminal Code restrictions were introduced in 1969.
August 27, 2021
Date single-event sports betting became legal across Canada under Bill C-218
— Parliament of Canada, Bill C-218 Royal Assent Record, 2021
52 years
Duration that single-event wagering was prohibited under the Criminal Code before Bill C-218 (1969–2021)
— Parliament of Canada, Criminal Code Historical Records, 2021
$14B+
CGA estimated annual Canadian spend on offshore and illegal sports betting in the year before C-218 passed — the primary public policy rationale for legalization
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Pre-Legalization Market Analysis, 2020
Ontario first
Ontario was the first province to open a fully competitive private-operator market (April 2022), while other provinces continue to operate through their gaming corporations (OLG, BCLC, Loto-Québec, AGLC)
— iGaming Ontario, Market Launch Report, 2022
Provincial Breakdown
Sports betting regulation and delivery models vary significantly by province. Ontario's open private-operator model generates the highest sports betting volume, while B.C., Quebec, and Alberta operate through crown corporations with more limited operator choice.
Ontario
~$5.9B sports betting handle (FY2024-25) — by far the largest provincial market due to private-operator competition
— iGaming Ontario, Q4 FY2024-25 Market Report, 2025
British Columbia
~$3.1B estimated sports betting handle via PlayNow.com (BCLC) + offshore — second-largest provincial market
— British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Annual Report 2024-25
Quebec
~$2.4B estimated sports betting handle via Mise-o-jeu+ (Loto-Québec) + offshore
— Loto-Québec, Annual Report 2024-25
Alberta
~$2.1B estimated sports betting handle via Sport Select/online (AGLC) + offshore — exploring competitive model
— Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), Annual Report 2024-25
~36%
Ontario's share of national regulated sports betting handle — reflecting its large population (38% of Canadians) and competitive private-operator market
— iGaming Ontario and CGA comparative data, 2025
OLG
Ontario's legacy crown corporation (OLG) continues to operate Sports Select and other betting products alongside the iGO private market — the only province with both models active simultaneously
— Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), Annual Report 2024-25
Most Wagered Sports
Canadian sports betting handle is heavily weighted toward professional North American leagues, with NHL hockey commanding the largest share nationally — a pattern unique to Canada and distinguishing it from US and European wagering profiles.
#1 NHL
Largest sport by betting handle in Canada — uniquely Canadian; NHL commands top position not seen in any other national market
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Sports Wagering Breakdown, 2025
#2 NFL
Second-largest by handle — Super Bowl weekend alone accounts for an estimated $300M+ in Canadian regulated wagering
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Sports Wagering Breakdown, 2025
#3 NBA
Third by handle — Toronto Raptors games generate significant local betting volume in Ontario and nationally
— iGaming Ontario, Sports Wagering Breakdown, 2025
#4 Soccer
Fourth by handle — Premier League, Champions League, and MLS drive year-round wagering, strongest in Quebec and Western Canada
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Sports Wagering Breakdown, 2025
~62%
Share of Canadian regulated sports bets placed as live (in-play) wagers vs. pre-game — live betting has grown steadily since single-event legalization
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), State of the Industry Report, 2025
Bettor Demographics
Canadian sports bettors skew male and younger, with the 25–44 age cohort representing the largest share of active wagering volume. Mobile device usage dominates across all demographic groups.
~68%
Male share of Canadian regulated sports bettors
— Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey — Gambling Module, 2023
25–44
Age group representing the largest share of active sports bettors by handle volume
— Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2023
~78%
Share of Canadian sports bets placed via mobile device (app or mobile browser)
— H2 Gambling Capital, Canadian Mobile Wagering Report, 2025
~34%
Share of Canadian adults 19+ who placed at least one legal sports bet in 2024–25
— Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey — Gambling Module, 2023
Unregulated & Offshore Market
A significant portion of Canadian sports betting volume continues to flow to offshore and grey-market operators who are not AGCO-registered and offer no responsible gambling protections. These operators pay no Canadian taxes and operate outside provincial consumer protection frameworks.
~$4B
Estimated annual Canadian sports betting handle flowing to unregulated offshore operators
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Unregulated Market Analysis, 2025
~20%
Estimated share of total Canadian sports betting market still captured by unregulated operators — down from ~70% pre-C-218
— H2 Gambling Capital, Regulated vs Unregulated Market Share, Canada, 2025
$0
Tax revenue generated by offshore operators — compared to hundreds of millions annually from regulated operators
— Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), Tax Revenue Comparison, 2025
Responsible Gambling Statistics
~500,000
Estimated Canadian adults experiencing moderate-to-severe problem gambling (PGSI 3+)
— Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), National Problem Gambling Estimates, 2024
$13.75B
Estimated annual social cost of problem gambling across Canada
— Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), Economic Burden of Problem Gambling, 2024
2.0%
National prevalence of problem gambling (PGSI 3+) among Canadian adults who gamble
— Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2023
34,000+
Voluntary self-exclusions in Ontario's regulated market since April 2022 — national self-exclusion data from all provinces not centrally published
— iGaming Ontario, Responsible Gambling Annual Data, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sports betting legal across all of Canada?
Yes. Since Bill C-218 came into force on August 27, 2021, single-event sports betting is legal in all Canadian provinces and territories. However, the delivery model differs by province: Ontario operates a competitive private-operator market through iGaming Ontario; British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta channel sports bets through their respective crown gaming corporations; and most other provinces also route bets through OLG or provincial equivalents.
How large is Canada's sports betting market in 2026?
Canada's total regulated sports betting handle is estimated at approximately $16.5 billion for 2024–25, generating roughly $1.73 billion in GGR. Including estimated offshore and unregulated volume, the total market is approximately $20.5 billion. Canada ranks among the top 15 sports betting markets globally by GGR.
Which province has the most sports betting activity?
Ontario is Canada's largest sports betting market by a significant margin, accounting for roughly 36% of national regulated handle. This reflects both Ontario's large population (38% of Canadians) and its open private-operator model, which offers consumers far more operator choice and competitive odds than crown corporation alternatives.
What is the most popular sport to bet on in Canada?
NHL hockey is the most wagered sport by handle in Canada — a unique national characteristic not seen in any other betting market. The NFL is second, followed by the NBA and soccer (Premier League, Champions League, MLS). CFL betting has grown since single-event legalization but remains a smaller share overall.
How do problem gambling rates compare across provinces?
Ontario has a higher problem gambling prevalence (3.7% PGSI 3+) than the national average (2.0%), partly reflecting higher overall gambling participation rates and product accessibility. B.C. and Quebec report similar national-average prevalence. All provinces fund treatment and harm reduction programs, though the scale and approach varies. Free help is available nationwide through provincial helplines.
Cite This Page:
OntarioBetGuide.ca. (2026, April). Canadian Sports Betting Statistics 2026: National Market Size & Provincial Breakdown. Retrieved from https://ontariobetguide.ca/stats/canadian-sports-betting-statistics-2026.html
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