Ontario Surpasses 90% Channelization as Regulated Operators Gain Ground

Four years after opening its doors to private operators, Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is beginning to deliver a steady migration away from the gray market, and toward a system built around oversight and player protection. This achievement is notable, as just a few years ago, most online play occurred on unregulated black-market operators.

Ontario Is Now a Global Leader in Channelization

According to new data from an Ipsos study, 91.1 % of online gamblers in the province are now gaming on regulated sites, a huge leap from the year before. Even more telling, perhaps, is the drop in users engaging exclusively with unregulated sites, now down to 8.9% from more than 16% a year ago.

This shift was not accidental. When the province opened its market to regulated gambling, it imposed strict conditions on operators. Platforms must follow robust standards for fairness, data security, and responsible gambling tools. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) enforces compliance, while iGaming Ontario manages operator relationships.

This continued shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s model and its focus on protecting players.

Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO CEO and Registrar 

According to Attorney General Doug Downey, the numbers show that a regulated system can attract players and eliminate dangerous options. Generally, a higher channelization rate reflects a more effective market. Crossing the 90% threshold places Ontario among the global leaders, especially for a relatively new open market.

Customer Safety Remains a Priority

Despite this success, Ontario is not treating the numbers as a finish line. The illegal market hasn’t really gone away, and officials admit that many players continue to use offshore sites that don’t offer adequate consumer protections. Those platforms often operate with little or no oversight, raising concerns about data security and even potential links to financial crime.

To deal with such threats, the province continues to prioritize harm reduction. The new centralized self-exclusion system, known as BetGuard and introduced last month, was a notable achievement. Set to roll out this spring, the program will allow users to block themselves from all regulated operators through a single process.

To date, we’re proud to see Ontario’s world-class online gaming model continue to support jobs, innovation, and economic activity across the province.

Doug Downey, Ontario Attorney General

Such refinements will ensure that the 90% of betting Ontarians who engage with regulated operators will have access to industry-leading protections. A well-regulated market also generates economic activity, supports jobs, and creates a transparent environment for operators. Keeping these benefits requires a constant balance between keeping regulated platforms competitive while cracking down on unregulated ones. And so far, Ontario is succeeding.