Interac still leads, but by less
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's Q2 2026 market report shows Interac e-Transfer accounted for 48 percent of casino deposit volume in the province, down from 63 percent a year earlier. The 15-point drop is the largest single-year shift in Canadian gambling payments since regulated iGaming launched in 2022.
Where the volume went
Cryptocurrency deposits (predominantly USDT and USDC) climbed from 6 percent to 14 percent, roughly doubling. Card share held steady at 18 percent. The remaining shift went to a mix of Trustly Pay N Play, PayPal and a handful of newer open-banking rails that launched with Ontario operators in late 2025.
Why the shift is happening
Interac e-Transfer remains reliable and free for players, but it clears in "up to 30 minutes" on the deposit side and "one to three business days" on withdrawals. Stablecoin deposits are effectively instant both ways, cost pennies, and do not touch a Canadian bank's gambling-flag radar. For players who already hold crypto, the switch is friction-free.
What operators say
Several licensed Ontario operators have confirmed that first-withdrawal times are now faster on crypto than on Interac for verified accounts, reversing a two-year pattern. Casinos processing large volumes have also cited the lower processing cost as a factor in aggressive crypto promotions launched through mid-2026.
Outside Ontario
Provinces without regulated iGaming (still the majority in 2026) show even more dramatic crypto growth, driven by grey-market operators that never had reliable Canadian card or Interac support to begin with. Alberta and British Columbia are both drafting frameworks that would follow Ontario's model; timing is unclear.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto legal for gambling in Canada?
In Ontario, yes, within the AGCO regulated framework where operators support it. Outside Ontario, gambling on non-Canadian offshore sites in any currency exists in a legal grey area that has been tolerated in practice but not explicitly legalised.
Do Canadian casinos require KYC for crypto deposits?
Ontario-licensed operators must; the licence conditions require the same identity verification regardless of payment method. Offshore operators vary.
