August 2026 at a Glance
| Measure | August 2026 | Change vs July |
|---|---|---|
| Total wagers | $9.74 billion | Down about 1% |
| Gaming revenue | $396.3 million | Down 4% |
| Active accounts | 1.208 million | Down 11% |
| Revenue per player | $328 | Up 8% |
All figures are in Canadian dollars and based on iGaming Ontario data. Revenue refers to non-adjusted gross gaming revenue.
Casino Takes 90% of Wagers
Online casino games, including slots, table games and live dealer titles, accounted for about $8.78 billion in wagers, or roughly 90% of all money bet in the regulated market. Casino handle was close to flat compared with July, but casino revenue rose about 2% to around $336 million, or 85% of total market revenue.
Casino's dominance is not new. Online casino has accounted for the large majority of Ontario's wagering since the market opened, but August set a new high for its share of total handle.
Sports Betting Falls in a Quiet Month
Sports and event betting moved in the opposite direction. Handle fell about 15% from July to roughly $843 million, and sports betting revenue dropped about 30% to around $54 million.
The decline was largely expected. July benefited from the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, while August is traditionally one of the quietest months on the sports calendar: the NHL and NBA are in their off-seasons and the NFL regular season had not yet begun. Sports betting revenue also depends on results, so a run of outcomes that favour bettors can reduce operator revenue even when betting volume holds up.
Peer-to-peer poker continued to be a small but steady part of the market, with about $122 million in cash wagers and around $5.6 million in revenue.
How August Compares
August followed a record July, when total wagers reached about $9.88 billion and revenue reached roughly $414 million, both up more than 30% compared with July 2025. Even with August's small dip, monthly wagering remains well above last year's levels, and the market continues to approach $10 billion in monthly handle.
The fall in active player accounts from July to August is consistent with the end of the World Cup, which brought many casual bettors into the market. At the same time, revenue per active player rose, suggesting that the players who remained were more engaged, particularly on casino products.
Market Size
Ontario had 49 licensed operators running 84 gaming websites in August. Fanatics received regulatory approval during the month but still needed to finalize its operating agreement with iGaming Ontario before launching. We covered its approval in Fanatics Granted Ontario iGaming License.
What to Watch Next
September and October data should show a strong rebound for sports betting, as the NFL season, MLB's postseason and the return of the NHL and NBA push handle higher. Ontario will also face its first direct regulated competition from Alberta, which opened its own private-operator market in July and closed its transition period on October 13. See our report: Alberta's iGaming Grace Period Ends With Around 50 Operators Approved.
For background on how Ontario's market works, read our iGaming Ontario and AGCO guide.
Sources
What to check next
- Distinguish wagering volume from operator gaming revenue.
- Read month-to-month changes alongside the sports calendar.
- Treat active accounts as accounts, not a count of unique people.