New Study Reveals Useful Insights
Ontario has been one of the most talked about gambling markets in the industry since it opened its doors for business two years ago. A new study by market research company Ipsos and released by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario provides useful insight into how the market is performing and how players behave.
Legal Gambling
One of the most interesting pieces of information focused on how many players are gambling legally. The study showed that 86% of users were using regulated sites to place wagers in the province. This was an increase from 85.3% reported in the previous year. There were 2,016 Ontarians aged 19 and over questioned for the study.
With 86% using legal operators, that still means around 14% are opting for unregulated providers, which is something that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission were quick to address.
In a statement, Dr. Karin Schnarr, the authority’s Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, said that while it is encouraging to see the majority of participants using regulated options, there are still too many taking big risks for opting for unregulated operators.
Player Behaviour
In addition to regulating gambling, the study also examined gambling habits. Surprisingly, basketball was the most popular sport to bet on, accounting for 24% of the study. Football was second, with 15%, and hockey, the sport widely seen as Canada’s biggest made up 11%.
When it comes to casinos, Ontarians love a game of blackjack. A huge 27% of respondents said it was their favourite game, with blackjack and roulette in second and third at 9% and 9%, respectively.
Casino reigns supreme in Ontario, with $13.7bn being wagered at online casinos. In comparison, $3.1bn was wagered at sportsbooks, with $430,000 being bet on peer-to-peer poker games.
