The Canadian online casino market has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with an increasing number of online casinos and sports betting sites. This is due to the regulatory changes in Canada, which have made it possible for operators to access this promising market.
It does not come as a surprise that there are over 19.3 million active players in Canada, placing the country at number eight in terms of the amount of money spent on casino games. Canadian players spend more than $16 billion annually at local casinos and more than $4 billion on offshore online gambling sites, according to research by the Canadian Gaming Association and Statistica.
Regulation allows the Canadian market to thrive
Online gambling in Canada was legalized in 2009, however, it was limited to state-run casinos, which offered mainly lotteries. Most players would therefore play at land-based casinos or online casinos not operating on Canadian soil, which was deemed a grey area.
Within the past few years, the regulatory environment has changed drastically. The Canadian government has taken a more lenient approach to online gambling, allowing provincial authorities to regulate the industry within their borders. This has allowed the industry to thrive, as provinces have been able to regulate themselves. The province of Ontario legalized iGaming in 2022, and since then, gambling companies have been able to provide services to Canadian players in the province legally.
Offshore casinos are still favoured by many players, with the majority of these operating under a license from Curacao or Malta. However, more provinces are attempting to regulate themselves, and more and more casinos that are purely Canadian are opening.
Affliate site Bojoko: “Responding to the growing demand is an interesting task”
We interviewed Christoffer Ødegården, Head of Casino at Bojoko, which has been operating in the Canadian market since 2019, about the recent changes in the market.
“We get weekly contacts from new operators wishing to get listed on Bojoko. We are delighted to receive them because we strive to feature a diverse range of sites. Our experts, who have years of experience in the field, thoroughly familiarize themselves with the casinos and put them to the test. We then offer an overview of the casino and compare it to other sites.”
“So far in 2023, we have already published 36 reviews, which averages about 15 new reviews per month on our new casinos -page. Responding to the growing demand for reliable and trustworthy information about casinos is an interesting task for us, which we accept with great enthusiasm. We effectively utilize the knowledge and experience we have acquired from other markets. In addition to our reviews and guides, we are improving the comparison features, allowing players to filter the results even further.“
“We see a lot of interest from operators about the market as a sign of how Canada has gained significant traction. The new Ontario regulations have clarified the rules, clearly encouraging new operators to enter the industry. This presents a plethora of options for Canadian players, but it may also make decision-making challenging.”
“What we see in common with new brands entering the market is that they provide increasingly better offers to new players. Simultaneously, operators are placing a heavy emphasis on responsible gambling. Because the newcomers have adapted to the regulatory framework so well, it has been easy for us to suggest a variety of trustworthy casinos to our readers.”
Christoffer Ødegården, Head of Casino at Bojoko, stated:
“The growth of the Canadian market has significantly increased the demand for reliable information about casinos. The trend is upward, so we have taken it upon ourselves to meet the demand to the best of our abilities. As evidenced by the number of publications, our team has been working hard to ensure that our readers have access to accurate and honest reviews of all the latest casino sites.”
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