Ontario's regulated iGaming market opened 2026 with its strongest wagering month to that point. January handle reached about $9.52 billion, up 21.4% from January 2025.
Operators generated approximately $401.5 million in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue. That was 22.2% higher than a year earlier, although it remained below the revenue record Ontario had set in December 2025.
Why January mattered
The result showed that Ontario was still growing rapidly almost four years after the April 2022 market launch. New-market growth is often expected to cool as a jurisdiction matures, but Ontario entered 2026 with both wagering and revenue still more than 20% above the prior year.
Casino continued to lead
As in most recent Ontario reports, online casino generated the majority of the market's wagering and revenue. The category includes slots, live dealer and computer-based table games offered by regulated operators.
Handle and revenue are different metrics
Handle is the amount wagered, excluding promotional wagers in iGO's reporting. Gaming revenue is what remains from cash wagering after player winnings, before operator costs and other liabilities. A record handle month does not automatically mean a record revenue month because payout rates and product mix change.
What the start of 2026 signalled
January set the tone for a year in which Ontario would continue posting large monthly totals while the market also began focusing more on profitability, safer-play infrastructure and retention. The launch of Alberta's open market later in the year would add a second Canadian comparison point.
Sources and verification
Figures and regulatory details were checked against the following official or industry sources. Market figures can be revised after publication.