Led by an MLB playoffs featuring the Toronto Blue Jays, Ontario set multiple iGaming records in October.
Key Takeaways
- More than $9 billion was wagered online in Ontario for the first time.
- Blue Jays’ success hurts operator profits.
- Active users spike 36% year-over-year.
iGaming Ontario reported a new monthly wagering high of CAD $9.25 billion from casinos, online sports betting, and poker. Total cash wagers were up 24% year-over-year and 8% from the record set in the previous month.
The $367.7 million in non-adjusted gaming revenue spiked 38% compared to October 2024 and surpassed August’s $334.8 million as the new Ontario iGaming record.
Online casinos, which accounted for 85% of the market share, produced 82% of Ontario iGaming revenue on a record $7.88 billion handle.
The Blue Jays made it to their first World Series since 1993, and the NHL and NBA regular seasons began during October, leading to a $1.23 billion sports betting handle and a 16% year-over-year increase. The previous record was $1.19 billion set in November 2024.
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Blue Jays kill profits
Revenue, however, didn’t match the massive uptick in volume. Behind just a 4.7% hold in October, Ontario online sportsbooks only won back $58.3 million, a 20.4%.% year-over-year decline and down 16% from the previous month.
Bettors thrived off the Blue Jays’ run through the American League, and it could’ve been worse if they had won it all.
Toronto lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games, which helped sports betting platforms rack up high wagering figures and save them from any massive World Series winner odds payouts.
Active players, poker revenue rise
Active player accounts also reached a new high of 1.29 million in October, a 36% increase. Online poker generated $131 million in wagers and $5.6 million in revenue during October, a 5.7% year-over-year increase.
Profits could see an even bigger spike next October after a court of appeals judge favored allowing online poker players to compete in peer-to-peer games with players in other countries. Daily fantasy sports, which stopped being offered in the Province in 2022, is also expected to make a return to Ontario as well.
