The Ukrainian online gambling market is at the point, where the struggle between legal platforms and offshore operators is becoming increasingly intense, especially in regions with unstable economic situation and limited control.
🇨🇦 Canada shows, how differently the online gambling market can operate even within the same country. Today it is the third iGaming market in the world with a turnover of approximately $9,5 billion.
Most provinces have chosen a state monopoly: one official platform and a huge shadow segment offshore sites. But Ontario is 2022 year followed a different model - opened the market for private licensed operators. Now Alberta is also preparing for this scenario..
What does the situation look like in provinces with a monopoly in 2025 year:
🔵 Saskatchewan — 93% market remains with offshore operators
🔵 Alberta - 88%
🔵 Manitoba - 88%
🔵 Quebec — 83%
🔵 Nova Scotia — 78%
🔵 New Brunswick — 74%
🔵 Prince Edward Island — 74%
🔵 British Columbia - 59%
Even there, where the state model has existed for decades, offshore segment continues to dominate. British Columbia lives with a monopoly for more than 20 years, Quebec — approx 15, however, it was not possible to completely displace unlicensed platforms.
Against this backdrop, Ontario has become Canada's main experiment. In April 2022 The province officially opened the market to private companies. Moreover, those brands also received licenses, who have previously worked there offshore. This transition made it possible to quickly transfer players to a regulated system without severe conflict with the market. After just three years, licensed operators control approximately 85% turnover, and the market itself is valued at $3,1 billion. Among the most notable brands is Bet365, Betty и Luxury Casino.
Now the focus turns to Alberta. In mine 2025 years there they passed a law on the transition to an open market model, and registration of operators started in January 2026. Now the situation is similar to that, what Ontario had before the reform: about 88% market is held by offshore sites. At the same time, major brands from Ontario have already announced plans to enter the region.
If we transfer this experience to Ukraine, Tthe most indicative work of the open licensing model could be in front-line and economically difficult regions, where the level of shadow online gambling is traditionally higher, and state control is weaker. First of all, we can talk about territories, close to the combat zone, as well as regions with partially destroyed offline infrastructure. This is where government monopoly or excessive restrictions often lead to players leaving for offshore sites, rather than real market control.
At the same time, temporarily occupied territories remain a separate issue., since full licensing and regulation there is virtually impossible until Ukrainian jurisdiction is restored.
