- Waterloo leads Canada in online-gaming interest with 934 searches per 100,000 residents.
- Brampton ranks second with 874 searches per 100,000 residents, followed by Burnaby in third place with 794 searches per 100,000 residents.
- Saguenay recorded the lowest online-gaming curiosity with just 77 searches per 100,000 residents.
The study shows that Waterloo leads the nation with the strongest search interest in online games.
The study by a trusted online gaming comparison platform, CasinosHunter, analyzed Google search data across Canadian cities for online-gaming terms such as “online game,” “free online games,” “free online games no downloads,” “online games to play with friends,” “play free online games,” “subway surfers online game,” and more. Using 2025 population estimates, the data was then used to calculate the number of searches per 100,000 residents to determine which cities are most engaged with online gaming content.
Waterloo ranks first with an average of 934 online-gaming searches per 100,000 residents, 102% higher than the national average of 462 searches per 100,000 residents. The city recorded 910 average monthly searches among a population of 97,475 in 2025. Top-searched terms were “online game,” “free online games,” and “msn free online games.”
Brampton ranks second with an average of 874 searches per 100,000 residents, 89% higher than the national average of 462 searches per 100,000 residents. With a population of 433,806 in 2025, the city recorded 3,790 average monthly searches. The most-searched terms included “online game,” “free online games,” and “play free online games.”
Burnaby takes third place with an average of 794 searches per 100,000 residents, 72% higher than the national average of 462 searches per 100,000 residents. Its population of 202,799 in 2025 generated 1,610 average monthly searches. Residents most frequently looked for “online game,” “free online games,” and “play free online games.”
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from CasinosHunter commented:
“This data reveals a striking correlation between tech-industry presence and online gaming engagement—Waterloo, Canada’s Silicon Valley, leads with twice the national average in searches, suggesting that tech-savvy populations drive casual gaming adoption.
“The dominant preference for ‘no download’ and ‘free’ game searches across all top cities indicates that convenience and accessibility outweigh premium gaming experiences for most Canadian players, presenting both a challenge and opportunity for developers. Notably, the 12-fold difference between Waterloo’s 934 searches per capita and Saguenay’s 77 raises questions about regional digital infrastructure, demographic composition, and whether language barriers in French-speaking regions are limiting market penetration for predominantly English-language casual games.”
Kelowna ranks fourth with an average of 743 searches per 100,000 residents, 61% higher than the national average of 462 searches per 100,000 residents. The city’s 125,109 residents in 2025 generated 930 average monthly searches. Highly searched terms included “free online games with no downloads,” “online game,” and “free online games.”
St. John’s ranks fifth with an average of 716 searches per 100,000 residents, 55% higher than the national average of 462 searches per 100,000 residents. Among 99,182 residents in 2025, the city logged 710 average monthly searches. Top queries included “online game,” “free online games,” and “msn free online games.”
What Factors the Gaming Industry Stakeholders Should Consider:
Actionable recommendations based on regional search patterns:
- Target high-engagement cities like Waterloo, Brampton, and Burnaby for localized marketing campaigns and regional partnerships to maximize user acquisition efficiency.
- Prioritize accessibility features such as no-download browser games and mobile-optimized platforms, as searches for “free online games no downloads” indicate strong demand for instant-play options.
- Leverage nostalgia marketing by promoting established titles like Subway Surfers, which appear consistently in top search terms across multiple cities.
- Develop social gaming features to capitalize on high search volumes for “online games to play with friends,” particularly in multiplayer and co-op game modes.
- Investigate low-engagement markets like Saguenay to identify barriers—such as language preferences, internet infrastructure, or cultural factors—that could unlock untapped opportunities.
Regina (6th) recorded 698 online-gaming searches per 100,000 residents, followed by Saskatoon (7th) at 684, Calgary (8th) at 643, Edmonton (9th) at 637, and London (10th) at 632.
Table for Extended Results:
| Top 10 Canadian Cities With the Strongest Interest in Online Games (2025) | ||
| Canada Cities | Searches per 100,000 Residents | Rank |
| Waterloo | 934 | 1 |
| Brampton | 874 | 2 |
| Burnaby | 794 | 3 |
| Kelowna | 743 | 4 |
| St. John’s | 716 | 5 |
| Regina | 698 | 6 |
| Saskatoon | 684 | 7 |
| Calgary | 643 | 8 |
| Edmonton | 637 | 9 |
| London | 632 | 10 |
The study was conducted by CasinosHunter, an independent iGaming information platform helping Canadian players make informed, responsible, and enjoyable entertainment choices online.
Methodology:
The study analyzed Google search data across Canadian cities for online-gaming terms, including but not limited to: “online game,” “free online games,” “free online games no downloads,” “msn free online games,” “best free online games,” “best online games,” “online games for kids,” “online games to play with friends,” “play free online games,” and “subway surfers online game.” Using 2025 population estimates, the data was then used to calculate the number of searches per 100,000 residents to determine which cities are most engaged with online gaming content.
Data Sources
- Google Search Volume → Google Keyword Planner
Research Dataset → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vgFyrCQdnwBYgbco-jxqVrdtZi2mdPFi9y2tP2fvwaw/edit?gid=0#gid=0
