The latest stats show that approximately 26% of the global population has been engaged in gambling activities at some point in time, while about 4.2 billion people do this at least once per year.
Both the UK and Canada are listed among the largest gambling markets globally, with 29 million and 19.3 million active players respectively. These figures have been steadily growing during the past decades, making the industry produce billions in gaming wins, which is affecting the country’s economy accordingly.
The growth of the gambling sector across the UK and Canada owes to tech advancements and the increased use of smartphones, as a large portion of players enjoy games of chance on the go. At the same time, slots generate almost 80% of the online gambling revenue due to their diversity and ease of accessibility through https://theonlinecasinos.ca/slots or alternative sites for Canadian and UK players.
Let’s explore the current state of the gambling market in the United Kingdom and Canada, comparing the record revenues of local firms to provide a comprehensive analysis of how the industry evolves in each country and influences the economy.
Gambling Revenue Statistics in Canada
With its liberal approach to gambling, Canada is a hub for about 90 land-based and hundreds of online gaming venues. There are also 670 businesses involved in the sector state-wide. In 2024, the casino and betting industry in the country has been estimated at CA$14 billion, and these are some of the biggest names in the industry with record annual revenues:
- Loto-Quebec (CA$2.9 billion): this is a crown corporation established in 1969 to deliver and oversee gambling products in the Quebec province. So, it manages lotteries, casinos, online gaming, bingo, video lottery, kinzo, and gaming halls.
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (CA$2.4 billion): OLG is a government agency that has been managing and conducting gaming services on behalf of the Ontario province since 1975. This includes lotteries, casinos, sports games, slots, lotto, and bingo.
- British Columbia Lottery Corporation (CA$1.5 billion): BCLC is a crown corporation founded in 1985 to manage all legal gambling products in British Columbia, from casino games to sports betting, lotteries, and bingo.
Gambling Revenue Statistics in the UK
With one of the most regulated gambling markets across the globe, the United Kingdom so far comes second only to the US in terms of produced revenues. To be more precise, the overall gambling sector in the UK amounted to £14.1 billion in 2024. There are also over 9,000 premises licensed to provide at least one form of gambling activity, including 175 casinos and more than 6,600 betting shops all across the country. Check out the most prominent UK firms generating the highest annual revenue:
- Flutter Entertainment (£10.27 billion): this is a leading multinational gambling and sports betting company with headquarters in Ireland. Created in 2016 due to the merger of Betfair and Paddy Power, Flutter boasts an unparalleled portfolio of renowned brands, such as PokerStars, Sky Betting & Gaming, FanDuel, Sisal, Sportsbet, Maxbet, and Adjarabet.
- International Game Technology (£3.53 billion): IGT is an international gambling company engaged in the production and distribution of top-quality slots, video lotteries, and other gaming solutions across 100 countries. Headquartered in London, the company also has offices in Las Vegas, Rome, and Providence.
- Bet365 (£3.39 billion): this is one of the biggest players in the world of sports betting which also provides a number of other gambling services like online casino, poker, and bingo. The company was established in 2000 by Denise Coates and has achieved considerable success in the industry since that time.
Canadian vs. UK Gambling Market: Revenue Analysis
Even though both the United Kingdom and Canada have established thriving gambling sectors, UK companies have still generated 28% larger revenues over the last fiscal year. With that in mind, the local industry so far holds 9.91% of the global market share, which has been estimated at £144.69 billion in 2024.
The primary reasons for the supremacy of the UK gambling sector lie in its well-established regulatory framework, strongly entrenched gaming culture, higher player engagement, and better investment in technology and advertising.
