By driving innovation, creating exciting new opportunities for workers, and providing protection and choice for players, this made-in-Ontario market will remain a global leader in this sector.
According to a government-funded study, the Ontario iGaming industry has several opportunities to support the development of so-called “structuring benefits” for the broader provincial economy.
Structuring benefits are ways that iGaming improves the Ontario economy — aside from the economic contributions created by iGaming market expenditures.
Jobs in the iGaming sector are projected to nearly double by the time regulated market for online poker sites, sportsbooks, and real money online casinos in Ontario enters its tenth year, researchers with Deloitte found in a 34-page report commissioned by iGaming Ontario (iGO).
Tax revenue is expected to nearly triple by the market’s tenth year, from April 2031 to April 2032. Deloitte also found iGaming’s contribution to the economy overall is expected to triple by the market’s tenth year.
“Over the past year, Ontario’s iGaming market has been internationally recognized for creating a safe, legal, and competitive landscape while supporting the province’s economy and displacing the existing unregulated market,” Attorney General Doug Downey said in a statement.
“By driving innovation, creating exciting new opportunities for workers, and providing protection and choice for players, this made-in-Ontario market will remain a global leader in this sector.”
Research Finds iGaming’s Benefits Widespread
The iGaming industry also has the potential to benefit from Ontario’s well-established technology clusters, which have been identified as a priority sector for investment attraction in the province.
Deloitte noted that while the provincial economy is supported by licensed operators offering their iGaming products to customers, operators create “true and substantive benefits” to the economy when they decide to make investments and establish a base of operations in Ontario.
“Acknowledging the regulated Ontario iGaming market is still in its nascency, through research and consultation with iGaming industry stakeholders, a profile has emerged of potential structuring benefits,” the firm said.
An employee in the iGaming industry was found to average a $103,000 CAD ($77,300 USD) salary during the market’s first year, according to Deloitte. The firm said demand for highly skilled positions that pay premium salaries could foster the development of an “iGaming economic ecosystem” that includes high-value and productive sectors of the economy, such as real estate professionals and scientific and technical services.
“The iGaming industry also has the potential to benefit from Ontario’s well-established technology clusters, which have been identified as a priority sector for investment attraction in the province,” Deloitte said.
Deloitte added Ontario is the first Canadian province to introduce a licensed and regulated market puts it in a position to become a destination for international operators looking to make a splash in North America. Encouraging foreign companies to “set up shop” and use the province as a base for investment and exports elsewhere will also boost the province’s balance of trade.
There Could Be 22k iGaming Jobs By 2032
By Deloitte’s calculations, Ontario’s regulated iGaming market created over 12,000 jobs, contributed nearly $1.6 billion CAD ($1.2 billion USD) and will bring an estimated $761 million CAD ($571 million USD) in tax revenue during its first year in operation.
The 12,072 jobs that Ontario’s iGaming market created in its first year included 1,803 directly created jobs. Another 7,916 jobs were created indirectly, while 2,353 jobs induced a contribution of about $332 million CAD ($249.2 million USD) to the economy.
Potential Economic Contributions of Ontario’s Regulated iGaming Market
| Year | Direct Contribution | Indirect Contribution | Total Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $308 million in GDP 1,803 jobs |
$937 million in GDP 7,916 jobs |
$1.6 billion in GDP 12,072 jobs |
| 5 | $1.2 billion in GDP 2,236 jobs |
$1.3 billion in GDP 10,768 jobs |
$2.9 billion in GDP 16,242 jobs |
| 10 | $2.3 billion in GDP 2,836 jobs |
$1.8 billion in GDP 14,824 jobs |
$4.7 billion in GDP 22,132 jobs |
Source: Deloitte. Note: All figures in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Researchers expect big numbers over the coming decade. In the market’s fifth year, from April 2026 to April 2027, Deloitte estimates there will be 16,242 total jobs created — including 2,236 directly created and 10,768 indirectly so. An additional 3,238 jobs would induce a $455 million CAD ($341.5 million USD) contribution to the economy.
By the market’s tenth year, Deloitte figures that there will be 22,132 jobs in the iGaming sector, including 2,836 that were directly created and 14,824 that were made indirectly. The firm predicted that another 4,472 jobs would induce $627 million CAD ($470.5 million USD) in economic activity.
The $761 million in tax revenue generated in year one includes $469 million CAD ($352 million USD) to Ontario’s provincial government. Ontario will get an estimated $1.32 billion CAD ($990.6 million USD) in tax revenue in year five, followed by $2.15 billion CAD ($1.6 billion USD) in year ten. Federal and local tax revenue will account for the rest.
By Deloitte’s calculations, Ontario figures to get $849 million CAD ($637.1 million USD) in tax revenue in year five, increasing to $1.39 billion CAD ($1 billion USD) in year ten.
