Regional Gaming Preferences Across Canada
Gaming is big in Canada but what might be surprising is that there are noticeable trends and preferences across different areas. Local gambling laws influence some of the gaming activities but the popularity of different sports and interests impact the gaming trends in different regions too.
Here are some of the key gaming preferences across different regions:
Ontario
Ontario was the first Canadian province to legalize online gambling, and this has led to a surge in playing online casinos and sports betting. Around 3.2 million Canadians regularly play online casino games and a large proportion of these players are based in Ontario.
There is a large number of Canadian online slots players in Ontario, with the most popular games including Mega Moolah and Thunderstruck II. With online casinos having high regulatory requirements, a safe and responsible gambling infrastructure allows players to enjoy playing online casino games with peace of mind that their money and data is safe.
Live dealer games are popular in Ontario too, with players enjoying the more interactive environment for games like roulette and blackjack.
The most popular sports in Ontario include ice hockey and NFL, which means there is a huge betting market for these sports in the province.
Away from gambling, Ontario also has a large video gaming community and esports events are held regularly in the region to cater for the demand from local players.
Québec
Lottery games are particularly popular in Québec, with the province’s official lottery site Loto-Québec giving Canadians the chance to win huge prizes on lotteries, as well as bingo, online casino games and sports bets.
There is a big poker culture in Québec, and the Casino de Montréal regularly holds prestigious poker tournaments with big prizes, attracting players from far and wide.
For older generations, bingo is a very popular game and there are many bingo hall choices in Québec City. The younger gamers mostly play video games like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Split Fiction.
Alberta
Alberta’s ranching culture drives a huge interest in horse racing and racecourses like Century Downs are popular with horse racing bettors. The horse racing culture is also evident in the sports betting markets in Alberta. Events such as the Canadian Derby and other high-profile race meetings bring the people of Alberta together for a fun day out.
Land-based casinos are also a large part of the Alberta economy, with over 28 casinos in the region, spread across the cities. Local sports teams like Calgary Flames have huge followings and many sports fans like to place wagers on their teams.
Video lottery terminals are commonplace in Alberta, with over 6,000 licensed VLTs located around the province, providing accessibility even in the smaller and rural areas.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, slots are massive, with games like Buffalo Gold attracting players to the simple game format. A woman from B.C. won $2.1 million in 2019, which was the biggest recorded slot win in Canadian history at time. This no doubt inspired others to try their luck, knowing that a local woman changed her life overnight with a prize most can only dream of.
The PlayNow gambling website is the only legal platform in British Columbia, so this is the go-to site for most online slots and betting activity in B.C. However, the local laws do not prohibit playing foreign casinos, so there is also a large number of B.C. players using offshore casinos.
NHL, NFL and horse racing is hugely popular in B.C., which has driven sports betting habits for the local players who want to increase the excitement by having wagers on sports events.
Summary of playing preferences and what the future holds for gaming in Canada
As you can see, gaming preferences can vary across the different Canadian regions, driven by factors like the local culture and roots, as well as the proximity of event venues and the local gambling laws.
Ontario has paved the way when it comes to iGaming in Canada, while online casino industries are still starting to grow in other provinces. Gaming preferences also differ massively for different generations, with younger gamers enjoying playing the latest technology, while older players prefer the familiarity and human interaction in places like bingo halls and video lottery terminals.
Some regions have successful sports teams with large followings of fans, which influences the sports betting market, while other communities are more drawn to lotteries.
Over the next few years, we will probably see some significant shifts in the regional and national preferences, as digital gaming options increase with the introduction of VR casinos and VR video gaming bringing new gaming experiences into Canada.
