A new analysis from CasinoCanada.com warns that Canada may not be adequately prepared for a surge in sports betting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country is co-hosting. The study, based on provincial regulatory data and iGaming Ontario figures, reveals significant disparities in regulated betting options across provinces.
Ontario Leads, Other Provinces Lag
Ontario boasts a competitive market with nearly 50 licensed operators, and more than 80% of its bettors use regulated platforms. However, the situation is starkly different elsewhere. In Saskatchewan, an estimated 93% of online bets are placed through unregulated offshore sites. Alberta and Manitoba follow at 88%, while British Columbia loses about half its online betting market to offshore alternatives despite having a provincial platform for years.
Alberta's Timing Problem
Alberta faces a particular challenge as it opens its market to licensed competition, but the registration deadline for operators is July 13, 2026, after the World Cup quarterfinals. This means Alberta bettors, already prone to using offshore sites, will do so during the tournament's peak.
Enthusiasm Expected to Soar
During the 2022 World Cup, 99% of bets on British Columbia's PlayNow platform backed Canada to advance from the group stage. With Canada co-hosting in 2026 and playing at home, enthusiasm is expected to be much higher, but the system outside Ontario was not designed to handle such demand.
Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, stated: "Canada is hosting the World Cup, and millions of fans will want to bet on it, including on their own team. The problem is that for many Canadians, licensed options are not competitive enough, driving them to offshore platforms without Canadian consumer protections. The World Cup will make this gap impossible to ignore."
The full analysis is available on CasinoCanada's website. CasinoCanada is a leading online resource for Canadian casino players, offering trusted information and reviews.
