Canada Lacks National iGaming Self-Exclusion System

Canada's online gambling market has grown into the world's third largest by revenue, yet the country still operates without a nationwide self-exclusion register or unified iGaming licensing system, according to a new report published by CasinoCanada.com.

The study estimates that Canada's online gambling sector generated CAD13.15 billion in revenue during 2025. It argues that the current provincial regulatory structure allows players who exclude themselves in one province to continue gambling with operators licensed elsewhere in Canada or through offshore websites.

The findings are based on information from iGaming Ontario, provincial regulators, Blask's 2025 iGaming Landscape Report and peer-reviewed public health research. According to the report, Canada's constitutional framework has resulted in separate provincial regulatory systems instead of a single national model.

The research also estimates significant offshore gambling activity outside Ontario. Offshore market participation is estimated at 49% in British Columbia, 93% in Saskatchewan and 88% in both Alberta and Manitoba. It further states that offshore gambling platforms expanded by 40% year-on-year in 2025, compared with 23% growth among licensed operators.

The report references research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in January 2026, which found that gambling-related contacts to Ontario's ConnexOntario helpline increased by approximately 198% following the launch of the province's regulated iGaming market in 2022. The increase was reported to be concentrated among boys and men between the ages of 15 and 44.

CasinoCanada.com also noted that Ontario has achieved a channelisation rate of 91.1% within its regulated market, while the province's BetGuard self-exclusion programme recorded more than 500 registrations during its first two weeks of operation.

Despite these developments, the report concludes that the absence of a nationwide self-exclusion programme continues to leave gaps in player protection across Canada's regulated online gambling sector.

Commenting on the findings, Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said:

"Record wagers and a near-200% rise in helpline contacts are happening at the same time, which tells you market growth and player protection are not the same thing. The tools that work internationally GAMSTOP, Spelpaus, BetStop all cover the whole market under a single registration.

"Canada has nothing like it. A national register wouldn't just protect players, it would also help licensed operators compete against offshore sites. This is a commercial argument as much as a moral one."