NFL Season Drives 27% Month-over-Month Rise in Ontario Sports Betting Revenue

Ontario sports betting revenue increased 27% month-over-month in September, aligning with the NFL regular season start.

Data released by iGaming Ontario and reported by Casino.org shows the province recorded CA$9.71 billion ($6.94 billion) in total cash wagers, unchanged from August. Non-adjusted gross gaming revenue reached $416.3 million ($297.7 million), up 5%.

Sports betting handle totaled $1.074 billion ($768 million), also up 27%, for an 11% market share. The category produced $69.1 million ($49.4 million) in revenue, matching the 27% gain and securing a 17% share of NAGGR. Year-over-year, handle rose 13.6% and revenue rose 26.2%.

NFL Season Fuels Record Player Activity

The gains coincided with the NFL kickoff, a known driver of sportsbook volume. Active player accounts climbed 17% to a record 1.413 million. Average revenue per active player account fell 10% to $295 ($210).

Online casino retained 88% of wagers and 82% of NAGGR. Peer-to-peer poker generated $130 million in handle for a 1% share. The market that launched in 2022 now counts 49 operators and 84 websites, including new entrants Fanatics Casino in early September and Hard Rock in July.

Supreme Court Ruling Looms Over Poker Liquidity

A forthcoming Supreme Court of Canada decision on international opponents in peer-to-peer games such as poker could alter liquidity if it removes current barriers. This regulatory variable sits alongside the seasonal handle patterns already evident in the September figures.

The Ontario results illustrate how major league calendars produce measurable but uneven lifts in sports betting while broader product growth remains tied to specific court and regulatory outcomes.