Ontario's online gambling market is set to continue its growth trajectory following Premier Doug Ford's recent election victory. The Progressive Conservative Party's win signals stability for the province's competitive iGaming landscape.
The Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, led by Premier Doug Ford, has clinched another majority government in Canada's most populous province. This electoral outcome bodes well for the continued expansion of Ontario's competitive online sports betting and casino gambling market, which was implemented under the PC's watch.
As of Friday afternoon, with nearly all polls reporting, Ford's party secured 80 seats in the 124-seat legislature. This comfortable majority allows the PCs to maintain their pro-iGaming stance without significant opposition.
The online gambling industry has flourished since the Ford government launched a competitive iGaming market in 2022. Ontario now boasts 50 private operators and 84 licensed sports betting, bingo, casino gaming, and poker sites. This approach contrasts with other Canadian provinces, where government-owned lottery corporations typically hold iGaming monopolies.
Recent data underscores the market's robust growth. For the quarter ending December 31, Ontario's competitive iGaming market saw $22.7 billion in wagers, marking a 22% increase from the previous quarter and a 32% year-over-year rise.
While online gambling wasn't a major campaign issue, a pending court decision could impact the industry's future. The Ford government has asked the province's Court of Appeal about the legality of allowing Ontario gamblers to participate in online poker or paid daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests with players from other countries.
This question arose because Ontario's current iGaming rules require all participants to be within provincial borders, effectively shuttering paid DFS contests and limiting poker player pools. A favorable court ruling could pave the way for international agreements, potentially reviving DFS offerings and expanding online poker options for Ontario players.
As the industry awaits this crucial decision, Ford's re-election ensures that his government will be at the helm to navigate any resulting changes to Ontario's iGaming landscape.
