According to a recent survey commissioned by Spin Genie Ontario, the launch of Ontario’s iGaming market in the previous year has attracted new players to online gambling. The survey revealed that 43% of online players joined online games of luck in less than a year, with 24% joining in the past six months. Conducted on the cusp of the one-year anniversary of legal internet gambling in Ontario, the survey found that the expansion of regulated online gambling from casino to mobile and desktop screens has successfully attracted casual players, including many who previously gambled exclusively in person.
The study, which aimed to understand user habits and public perceptions of the online gaming landscape in the province one-year post-legalization, found that most respondents were aware that OLG.ca is a regulated site, but many believed that other major gaming sites were unregulated. The survey also indicated that there is an opportunity for further education on the differences between legal and gray-area gambling operators.
The regulation of the iGaming market has prompted operators to enact responsible gambling tools, with 53% of online players agreeing that regulating the online market has made it safer for all who participate. As a regulated casino operator in the capital province of the Great White North, Spin Genie provides industry-leading responsible gambling and enhanced player protection tools, such as deposit and loss limits and breaks, to safeguard players from irresponsible gaming habits for the most responsible experience.
Although the majority of online players are aware of safe gambling and player protection tools among licensed operators of online gambling sites, there is still a significant proportion of players and non-players who are not aware of these practices. This presents an opportunity for greater education around responsible gambling practices.
Regarding the future of the online gambling market, the survey found that Ontarians who play free games online are slightly more open to the idea of gambling than those who do not play online games at all. However, both groups remain skeptical of opening an account within the next year, with 94% of those who play free games online saying it is unlikely they would gamble, and 98% of those who do not play any online games saying the same. As a result, there may be less room for market growth in years to come.