Gambling and Demographics: Who Gambles in Canada and How Much?

Forget everything you think you know about the typical Canadian gambler. Turns out, the person most likely to gamble in Canada isn’t who you think. Neither is the person spending the most. And the patterns of who plays what, where, and why? They’ll flip every stereotype you have about gambling. 

According to Statistics Canada’s 2023 Social Survey, about 60% of Canadians gamble. But that number hides one of the wildest demographic puzzles in the country. Let’s take a closer look at how Canadians really gamble. 

Gambling in Canada by Gender: Men and Women Compared 

Men and women gamble at nearly the same rate, but they do it in different ways. About 63% of all men and 57% of all women take part in some form of gambling. 

Walk into a casino or browse online gambling platforms, and you can see this divide clearly. Men tend to gravitate toward poker, blackjack, and sports betting. Women are more likely to enjoy bingo and slot machines. For example, around 12% of men bet on sports, compared to 4% of women, while 6% of women play bingo compared to 2% of men. 

The difference comes down to motivation. Men often gamble for excitement, challenge, and competition. On the other hand, women usually play to unwind, relax, and escape everyday stress. These preferences also influence spending habits. Both genders count roughly 3% of players spending more than $100 per month, but men are almost twice as likely to fall in the $20 to $100 monthly range at 18% compared to 10% for women. 

When it comes to risk, men are slightly more vulnerable. Around 2.5% of men meet the criteria for problem gambling, compared to 1.7% of women. Faster, competitive games tend to reinforce addictive behavior more strongly than slower-paced ones like bingo or slots. 

Gambling in Canada by Age: How Generations Play 

Younger Canadians gamble less often than older ones, but their habits are changing the industry. About 55% of adults aged 18 to 34 gamble, compared to 64% of those aged 35 to 54 and 61% of those aged 55 and older. 

The key difference is how they play. Older Canadians still prefer lottery tickets, bingo, and traditional casinos across Canada. Younger players prefer the speed and convenience of mobile platforms, where sports betting and digital slots dominate. 

According to iGaming Ontario (2024), Canadians under 35 account for most of the 12.7 million casino game app downloads across the country. While older generations view gambling as entertainment, younger players treat it more like an integrated digital experience that fits into their daily routine. 

Gambling and Income in Canada: Who Spends the Most 

Income plays a major role in gambling behaviour and risk levels. Canadians earning under $25,000 annually are the least likely to gamble, with 53% not participating at all. However, those who do gamble in this income group face a higher risk of addiction, with 2.7% developing serious problems. For some, gambling represents a chance to change their situation or escape financial stress, which leads to problem gambling. 

In higher-income households earning over $55,000, 71.5% gamble regularly, but only 1.1% experience gambling problems. That’s because they have the financial flexibility to play for fun without significant consequences. Interestingly, middle-income earners, between $25,000 and $55,000, are the most consistent participants. About 17% of them spend between $20 and $100 per month.  

Across all income brackets, about 3% of Canadians spend more than $100 monthly, and this small segment contributes a large portion of total gambling revenue. 

Gambling by Province: How Different Regions Compare  

Naturally, not every province will have the same relationship with online gambling. Some regions play more, others stay cautious, and the reasons often reflect local culture and regulation. 

Quebec leads the country with the highest participation rate at 69%, according to Statistics Canada (2023). Ontario follows closely, powered by its rapidly growing online market. Since the province launched its regulated iGaming sector in 2022, online wagers have surged by 91%, reaching $11.5 billion in a single quarter and generating over $1.4 billion in revenue between April 2022 and March 2023. 

British Columbia also shows strong involvement in online gambling, earning $421 million in revenue in 2021. In contrast, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the lowest participation rates, at around 50%, reflecting more cautious attitudes toward online gambling risks and addiction. 

Perceptions about gambling problems differ across Canada. In Atlantic Canada, 89% of residents believe gambling issues are increasing. Quebec follows at 88%, while British Columbia residents are more optimistic, with only 56% expressing concern. Around 85% of prairie residents believe gambling is a matter of personal responsibility, which may contribute to their lower overall participation rates. 

Indigenous Gambling Statistics in Canada 

Among Indigenous people, 72.4% participate in gambling, compared to 64.2% of non-Indigenous Canadians. However, Indigenous communities face higher rates of gambling-related harm. Around 4.5% of Indigenous gamblers are at moderate to severe risk, more than double the national rate of 2%. 

Reports from the Responsible Gambling Council (2024) and Angus Reid Institute (2024) point to multiple contributing factors, including economic inequality, limited access to entertainment, and the lasting effects of systemic discrimination. In many Indigenous communities, gambling also serves as a social activity, which can make harmful patterns more difficult to identify. 

Who Drives Most of Canada’s Gambling Revenue 

Across Canada, about 3% of gamblers spend more than $100 per month, and this group overlaps closely with the 2% who struggle with gambling addiction. 

According to the Canadian Gaming Association (2024), this small group generates more than 30% of all gambling revenue. Most Canadians gamble casually, with 43% spending between $1 and $20 monthly and 14% spending between $20 and $100. However, heavy spenders are the foundation of the industry’s profits. 

This creates an ethical challenge for regulators and operators who must balance economic success with social responsibility.  

Online Gambling Trends in Canada 

The expansion of regulated sportsbooks has also increased interest in golf betting in Canada, especially during major tournaments and PGA Tour events.

According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA, 2024), online gamblers are four times more likely to develop gambling problems than those who play in person. The majority are between 30 and 50 years old, and 5F6% are men, though women are catching up quickly. 

Traditional casino-goers spend about $463 annually, while online gamblers spend roughly $220, but the online segment is expanding far faster. iGaming Ontario (2024) projects that by 2027, about 20 million Canadians will gamble online, representing over 50% of adults. 

The convenience of mobile gambling attracts casual players, yet it also increases risk for vulnerable individuals who face constant access and temptation. 

The Future of Gambling in Canada 

For most Canadians, gambling is just a bit of fun. A lottery ticket here, a few spins online there, adding up to about $6.75 a month on average. But those averages don’t tell the whole story. 

Indigenous Canadians experience gambling problems at twice the national rate. Low-income households are three times more likely to develop addictions. And online gamblers face four times the risk of harm compared to those who play in person. 

Canada’s gambling industry is expected to reach $8.72 billion by 2030, and that growth shows no signs of slowing down. The real test will be whether responsible gaming efforts can grow just as fast. Expansion is certain, but protecting vulnerable players has to be a priority at every step of the way.