Ontario Sportsbook Revenue Falls 30% in August While Online Casino Hits New High

Ontario's regulated iGaming market reported a 30% decline in sportsbook revenue for August 2026, dropping to CA$54.4 million, according to iGaming Ontario (iGO). Online casino claimed 90% of all wagers, reaching its highest share since the market launch in April 2022. Fines from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) also shaped the month.

Online Casino Drives Ontario iGaming Revenue

Casino continued to dominate Ontario’s iGaming market in August, taking CA$8.776 billion in wagers—essentially unchanged from July. Casino’s Gross Gaming Revenue (NAGGR) reached a monthly record of CA$336.3 million, up 2% from CA$330.4 million in the prior month. This monthly figure marked a 25.6% increase year-on-year from the CA$267.8 million achieved in August 2025. Despite representing 90% of overall handle, casino’s revenue share was 85%, reflecting a hold rate of about 3.8%—lower than the sportsbook vertical.

Peer-to-peer poker cash wagers climbed 5% to CA$122 million, making up 1% of total wagers for the month, with NAGGR in that vertical up 6% to CA$5.6 million.

Ontario Sportsbook Revenue Plunges 30%

Sports betting in Ontario saw a sharp contraction post-World Cup. Handle dropped 15% month-on-month to CA$843 million, reducing the sportsbook share of total market wagers to 9%. Revenue fell even more steeply—down 30% to CA$54.4 million—leaving sportsbooks with a hold rate of roughly 6.5%. Sports betting made up 14% of market revenue despite only accounting for 9% of total wagers.

August’s slump followed the close of the FIFA World Cup (which Canada co-hosted), with major football betting shifting to the NFL, which starts its regular season in September. Market observers consider the August data a low point between betting peaks.

Fewer Active Accounts, Spending Climbs per Player

Active player accounts decreased by 11% from July’s level, totalling 1.208 million. Despite this drop, average revenue per user (ARPU) saw an 8% lift, reaching CA$328 for the month. The iGaming Ontario market reported 49 operators running 84 distinct gaming websites across the province.

AGCO Enforcement: Penalties for Non-Compliance

August also featured regulatory actions from the AGCO across three entities, resulting in total penalties of CA$270,000:

• Betty Gaming faced a CA$120,000 fine on 6 August after its age-verification controls allowed 23 individuals under 19 to register accounts on Betty.ca. Of these, nine proceeded to deposit and gamble. Betty had notified the AGCO about the system weakness in November 2025. The operator has since launched in the UK, marking its first move outside Ontario. Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO’s CEO and registrar, stated:

“Young people must not be able to create accounts, deposit money, or gamble online.”

• Booming Games, a slot supplier, was fined CA$70,000 on 20 August after its games still offered prohibited auto-play functionality for several months. AGCO said this undermined player protection protocols.
• NorthStar Gaming (operator of NorthStarBets.ca) saw its initial CA$100,000 penalty for anti-money laundering (AML) lapses reduced to a CA$80,000 settlement. According to NorthStar, AGCO cited missed enhanced due diligence for one player’s account from March 2024 to June 2025, where player occupation and deposit patterns warranted closer investigation. NorthStar Chief Executive Corey Goodman said:

“We accept responsibility for the matters identified in this Order.”

Market Dynamics and New Entrants

Fanatics received AGCO regulatory approval in August but must finalise its commercial agreement with iGO before launching in Ontario. If completed, Fanatics will join a market that saw Hard Rock Bet and DAZN Bet both launch in July. Upcoming regulation updates and the September NFL kickoff are expected to influence the next monthly data set, clarifying whether the August slowdown in sportsbook revenue is a seasonal effect.

Non-Adjusted Gross Gaming Revenue and Market Structure

Total non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR)—the figure before deducting bonuses, promo credits, taxes, fees, and costs—came in at CA$396.3 million for August, a 4% month-on-month decline and below the CA$405.4 million posted in April. Wager volume across all verticals totalled CA$9.74 billion, 1% down from July’s record CA$9.88 billion.

Ontario’s regulatory approach is set against 49 licensed operators, with continued scrutiny from AGCO likely as the market matures and more international brands prepare Ontario offerings.