Ontario Generates Record Online Casino Revenue in May

A report by iGaming Ontario shows that operators in the province generated in May record revenues of CAD $413.1 (US $291.3 million). An increase of 22.2% year over year

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: June 26, 2026 1:33 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Pictured: A patron plays a row of slot machines displaying jackpot amounts as we look at Ontario iGaming records for May 2026. Photo by REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Enjoying SBR content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account

Ontario's regulated online casino market had its strongest month on record in May, with both wagering and revenue reaching new highs, according to figures released by iGaming Ontario (iGO).

Players wagered CAD $8.37 billion ($5.9 billion) on Ontario online casinos in the month, generating CAD $326.4 million ($230.2 million) in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) for operators. The totals beat the previous record for wagers, set in March 2026, and for revenue, which was recorded in December 2025.

Compared to May 2025, online casino wagering increased by 20.4%, while revenue rose by 25.6%, and online casino activity accounted for 88% of all regulated wagers in the province.

Across all regulated gambling products, licensed operators took CAD $9.5 billion ($6.7 billion) in wagers in May, up 17.5% year-on-year but slightly below March’s all-time record. Total NAGGR reached CAD $413.1 million ($291.3 million), representing a 22.2% increase from May last year.

Ontario sports betting was a smaller piece of Ontario's regulated market, with CAD $972 million ($685.5 million) wagered in May, or 10% of total handle, matching the figure from May 2025 and 7% lower than in April, though sports betting revenue was up 13.1% year-over-year.

As of May, iGO listed 45 licensed operators in Ontario, responsible for 79 regulated gambling sites, excluding the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

Alberta confirms operators ahead of regulated market launch

While Ontario continues to set wagering and revenue records, neighboring Alberta is getting ready to launch its online sports betting and Alberta online casino market on July 13, becoming the second province in Canada to introduce a commercial iGaming industry.

The state regulator, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), has confirmed that 28 operators have either been approved or started the licensing process. That list includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, BallyBet, PointsBet Canada, and theScore Bet. The government-run PlayAlberta platform is due to continue alongside these private Alberta sports betting apps.

The list includes Canadian-owned operators like BET99, Betty Gaming, CasinoTime, River Cree iGaming, and Pure Casino Entertainment. However, established North American gambling operators such as bet365, GGPoker, 888, and NorthStar Gaming are not currently listed as operating in the upcoming legal Alberta sports betting market.

Alongside the licensing for operators, Alberta has approved 22 gaming suppliers covering other aspects of the industry including payment systems and gaming infrastructure.

According to the Alberta government, the regulated market, which has been developed using Ontario’s model as a reference, could generate as much as CAD $100 million ($70.5 million) in annual tax revenue.

The launch of the new market will take place just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and during the Canadian Football League season.

Support has not been universal, however. First Nations casino groups have expressed concerns that expanded online gambling could cut the revenue of the land-based community casinos they operator, while questions have also been raised about responsible gambling measures in the newly-competitive Alberta online gambling sector.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.