TLDR A new Ipsos poll shows 91.1% of Ontario gamblers now use legal, regulated platforms, up 7.4% from 2025 Players using only illegal gambling sites dropped nearly in half, from 16.3% in 2025 to 8.9% Before Ontario launched its regulated market in 2022, an estimated 70% of players used unregulated operators Ontario officials say the data proves their regulatory model is working to protect players and fight illegal gambling Alberta is set to launch its own regulated online gambling market on July 13, citing Ontario’s success as a model Ontario’s Regulated Market Shows Strong Growth
Four years after Ontario opened its legal online gambling market, new data shows that the vast majority of players have moved away from illegal sites. An Ipsos poll commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario found that 91.1% of Ontario gamblers now play on regulated platforms.
That figure is up 7.4% compared to 2025 results. Before Ontario launched its regulated market in April 2022, roughly 70% of players were gambling on unregulated sites.
The shift away from illegal operators has been steady. The share of players who said they gamble only on illegal sites fell from 16.3% in 2025 to 8.9% this year. That is nearly a 50% drop in just one year.
The AGCO and iGaming Ontario have commissioned Ipsos to conduct these annual surveys since the market launched. The data is used to track progress and target remaining illegal operators.
Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey said the results confirm the province’s approach is working. He called Ontario an international leader in maintaining a safe and competitive online gaming market.
Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO of the AGCO, said it is encouraging to see more Ontarians choosing regulated sites. She added that the commission remains focused on