Online gambling participation among Montreal adults nearly tripled between 2018 and 2025, even as fewer adults gambled in any form. The findings were published November 5 by Montreal’s regional public health authority and Concordia University.

The survey of 8,500 adults found these changes:

  • Online gambling participation rose from 4.4 per cent to 13.3 per cent, an increase of 8.9 percentage points.
  • Participation in gambling of any kind fell from 54.5 per cent to 39 per cent, a drop of 15.5 percentage points.

The contrast puts the focus on where gambling happens, not simply how many adults gamble. The figures measure participation, not money wagered or gambling revenue. They do not show whether the total amount gambled changed.

Young men are prominent in online play

The report says men aged 18 to 34 are especially involved in online casino games, sports betting and poker. Concordia researcher Sylvia Kairouz told Global News that gambling is increasingly happening online rather than in casinos or other physical locations.

Many online players report using unregulated sites

Among adults who gamble online, 38 per cent said they used only unregulated sites. Another 16 per cent reported using both Loto-Québec platforms and unregulated sites. The figures exclude online lottery-ticket purchases, according to the public-health authority.

These responses describe where participants say they play. They do not establish that every site in either group has the same protections or legal status. The authority also found that 73 per cent of adults surveyed believed gambling advertising should be prohibited.

Montreal’s survey shows a sharp split: overall gambling participation fell, while online play grew and many online players reported using unregulated sites.