Ontario is currently living the dream when it comes to online gambling. Torontonians are joining casino gaming platforms en masse, and the numbers are expected to rise. There’s been a slight dip in the sports betting departments, but the numbers are stellar when it comes to casino gaming.
What’s the reason behind this? There isn’t a single reason casino gaming is so popular in Ontario. In fact, there are several, and we’ll cover more of that below.
Numbers Don’t Lie
In the past year, there were around $16 billion in bets placed in Ontario on online casino games. Most of those went on slots, live casino games, and, a bit surprisingly, peer-to-peer bingo. Compared to the previous year, that’s around a 2% increase in bets and a lot more in revenue. There were 1.32 million active play accounts in the second quarter of 2024, with Torontonians spending an average of CA$308 on online casino games Ontario.
Gaming sites such as CasinoDays have seen a massive influx in the number of players and revenue as well. Casino gaming last year accounted for around 75% of all gaming revenue, and those numbers tell the story.
Online casinos are a much more convenient pick than physical casinos. Players are more likely to play online than at land-based venues thanks to numerous factors which include game variety, bonuses and promotions, and mobile availability as well.
The Reasons Behind the Increasing Popularity of Online Casino Gaming in Ontario
Convenience and Ease of Use
These factors should not be underestimated when choosing a casino. Torontonians love the convenience of online gaming sites, which they can access easily and quickly, and on any device. It’s a lot easier to play casino games online than to get in your car or pay a taxi to get to a land-based venue.
Online casinos are easy to use too. They’re oriented toward new players, meaning even if you’re not tech-savvy, you’ll find your way around one quickly. The layout and design is the same on any device, so whether you’re playing from a desktop or a smartphone doesn’t matter. They’re more suitable for any lifestyle as you can play whenever you want, and that’s a massive appeal for Ontario players.
Nothing Beats the Game Variety
Nothing beats the game variety of online casinos. Sure, land-based venues may have hundreds of slots and table games. However, they’re limited in space, and that’s not an issue for online gaming sites. They have virtually endless space as everything’s hosted online, meaning access to thousands of games.
It’s not uncommon for casino such as CasinoDays to feature thousands of titles from dozens of providers. Online slots are the most popular games of the bunch, but you also have RNG and live dealer table and card games on offer, as well as niche gaming options including bingo and scratchcards. New game types emerge all the time – crash games are proof of it.
With so many games on offer and demos too, it’s no wonder why Toronto players love online casino gaming so much.
Bonuses and Promotions
Another great aspect of online casino gaming are the bonuses and promotions. Think of them like comps but with much better offers. Instead of free drinks, you’re getting actual extra money to play with. You must use it under certain conditions, of course, but you can still use bonuses and promotions to win real money.
Getting that money out will be a challenge as you need to follow some rules. This is why it’s important to read the bonus terms and conditions before you claim one. Give the terms a read, take notes, and you can use your bonuses to maximum advantage and get the most out of your gaming sessions.
Special VIP Programs
Ontario players who become regulars at popular casino sites often enter special VIP programs. As part of the casino’s elite members, they achieve a status that opens up a world of opportunities, including better bonuses and promotions, exclusive, custom-tailored offers, and a slew of perks. It pays to become a VIP at online casinos in Ontario, as they enrich the experience like nothing else.
Players can read more about VIP or loyalty programs at each casino’s website. They usually offer loads of information on the subject and the available levels. Most VIP programs are point-based, meaning players get points that help them reach higher levels. Some adopt another form of progression such as a merit-based system, meaning the more spent, the higher the VIP status.
Either way, VIP programs are an excellent way to spice things up at Ontario casinos.
Gaming on the Go
For the past decade, the gaming industry has focused on mobile gaming. All games are mobile-optimized now and adapt to any screen size and software type. Mobile casino sites are taking the world by storm, with most casinos developing native apps that work as smooth as butter across a range of Android and iOS devices.
Even if your casino of choice doesn’t have an app, it certainly has a mobile website. These mobile sites are optimized to look like their desktop counterparts, so navigation is super-easy. And no casino requires anything special so you can play on the go. You need a solid phone—it can be a few years old—and a stable Internet connection. This makes gaming on the go in Ontario a huge hit, as players lose nothing in terms of games and bonuses, and gain the freedom of being able to play anytime.
Conclusion
There’s no question that the Ontario market has grown tremendously in the past few years. It will grow even further in the future as online casinos adopt new technologies that make online gaming even more exciting. We’re looking at quite a bright future for iGaming fans in Canada and especially Ontario. You may not like it, but the numbers speak for themselves – Torontonians love to gamble online and the industry obliges.
