Canada has one of the largest economies in the world, and the country’s largest industries include real estate, oil, and gas extraction, manufacturing, and mining. By GDP, Canada has the ninth-largest economy in the world. In 2020, Canada’s annual GDP was $1.64 trillion, and roughly one-third of GDP comes from Canada’s import and export of goods and services.

The Canada Special

Canada is home to many big-name brands. E-commerce giant Shopify is headquartered in the country, and central banks like the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) operate within the country’s financial sector. RBC is regarded as one of the largest banks in Canada and the world. We recently saw HSBC Group agree to sell HSBC Canada to RBC. According to the CEO of HSBC Group, the company considered HSBC Canada’s strategic fit and ultimately found an upside in selling the business. RBC is reportedly buying HSBC Canada for $13.5 billion, which is expected to close in late 2023.

RBC’s top executive sees its planned purchase of HSBC Canada as a “once-in-a-generation” chance for the bank to expand its lead in the country’s heavily concentrated financial market https://t.co/IVTyKnu9bt

— Bloomberg Markets (@markets) November 30, 2022

Growing Canadian Markets

Canada’s economy is constantly growing, too. RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Canada demonstrates this, but many other industries have taken off in the country over the years. One of the fastest-growing industries in 2022 is iGaming. iGaming refers to any online betting, such as online casino games and sports betting. This growth reflects a worldwide trend, where the global iGaming market is projected to grow to $114 billion by 2028.

In particular, Ontario’s iGaming market is leading the way in Canada. Total iGaming revenue in the second quarter of 2022 in Ontario’s iGaming market reached $267 million, up from the $162 million recorded in the first quarter of 2022. Likewise, total wagers, active player accounts, and average monthly spend per active player account increased in Q2 2022 in Ontario. Total bets entered the billions, jumping from $4,076 million to $6.04 billion in the second quarter.

Several operators and websites specializing in different areas of iGaming are live in Canada, helping the Canadian market reach a broader target audience. According to this review site, some of Canada’s most popular online casinos include LeoVegas, which specializes in mobile gaming, and Wildz. Wildz is an online casino known for offering lucrative casino bonuses. Canada’s iGaming market also offers French-speaking online casinos for Canadian players who want to speak French. This is particularly relevant in Quebec, a French-speaking province.

Interestingly, Canada’s iGaming market is rising simultaneously with the country’s eSports industry. In 2022, revenue in Canada’s eSports market is expected to reach nearly $25 million. This growth is attractive because eSports is a sector that the iGaming market is looking more into incorporating. People have shown that they enjoy placing wagers on eSports tournaments as they do with regular sports tournaments like the World Cup.

Canada has one of the largest economies in the world, so it’s no surprise to see the country continuing to push boundaries and grow its success in budding new industries like iGaming and eSports. Even though these are two competitive markets, Canada appears to have gotten its foot in the door already.