With over 18 million Canadians participating in the casino industry, there are significant differences in age groups, socioeconomic background, and gender among participants.
The most noticeable shift in gambling demographics has been women participating more in this space.
In the past, the gambling scene was mostly male-dominated, but recent statistics have shown that women now make up a large part of the gambling community. As of 2024, 43% of women have said they’ve gambled online.
According to casino expert Sergio Zammit, the ease of access and convenience of online casinos are attracting a wider range of players than ever. Female users make up a large portion of those who play top slots online in CA via such platforms.
Also, 84% of Canadians now own smartphones as of 2022. This widespread availability of mobile devices has made it easier for people to play at times that are convenient for them. This is in line with broader technology usage trends in the country and shows how mobile connectivity and easy access to high-speed internet have grown the online gambling sector.
As for regional preferences, Canada’s provincial regulations and vast geography have resulted in distinct gambling habits across the country. However, Ontario, which is the most populous province, has become a major player in the Canadian gambling market.
We’ve seen this since the province legalized single-event sports betting in 2021. Ontario has reported almost $1.4 billion in wagers in 2023. Also, approximately 33% of Ontario adults now participate in online gambling, which makes the province the clear leader in Canada’s iGaming revenue.
Atlantic Canada has 41% of adults are active in this scene. This number is spread through various provinces though, as this region encompasses areas like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador and New Brunswick.
Contrarily, the countries’ western provinces, which include Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, have slightly lower participation rates. Currently, the number of adults engaging in gambling activities in this region stands at approximately 22-26%.
Regarding game preferences, Canadian gamblers have varying tastes as they have many options to choose from. Despite that, lotteries are the most popular form of gambling, as around 52% of gamblers participate in them regularly.
The emergence of online platforms has diversified the types of games available to Canadians even further. However, among online options, slot games account for 48% of all online wagers made in the country.
Sports betting is also growing substantially in Canada, especially since sports betting has been legalized by many provinces in the country. Among Canadian bettors, basketball is currently the sport that has been most popular, as it accounts for 28% of all sports wagers.
However, other sports have been drawing a lot of attention as well. The most popular of these have been hockey, football, baseball and soccer. Socioeconomic factors have also played a role in shaping gambling habits across the country. That’s because Canadians in higher income brackets are more likely to participate in the gambling scene as they have more money to spend on entertainment.
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