Emerging Consumer Behaviors in Canada: Impacting Individual Personal Finances

The things that individuals spend their disposable income on is constantly evolving – especially with the rapid evolution of tech that is creating new things to consider buying that weren’t even a thing a month ago. Cultural differences across markets are directly influential on consumer personal finance management on an individual and macro level. Canada is but one market that has experienced a significant shift in consumer behaviors around digital entertainment over the last few years.. There is an emerging pattern of demand for more immersive and interactive online experiences, rather than the more passive experiences that were typically common.

With advanced technology and improved internet connectivity at the forefront, the options for digital entertainment are growing and these are some of the trending consumer behaviors in Canada:

Live Streaming Crosses Into More Areas

Live streaming from content creators is not a new concept but primarily live streaming was associated with video gaming. Now channels such as TikTok Live and Instagram Live have changed entertainment habits, with Canadians increasingly watching live streams of all types of topics, from cooking and traveling to life hacks and streaming of live events.

Streaming of Esports events has also become very popular in Canada, with platforms such as Twitch hosting Esports Canada content and Esports Alberta community content. The reason we are seeing a large interest in live streaming seems to stem from a shift in people looking for more interactivity when they are online. Live streaming allows viewers to ask questions in comments, with content creators often responding to build engagement with their followers.

Mobile-first Entertainment

The amount of time that Canadians spend on mobile apps has increased significantly over the last six years. In 2019, Canadians spent an average of 1.4 hours per day on mobile apps and this increased to 4.5 hours per day in 2025.

With faster internet connectivity through the roll out of 5G in major cities, Canadians can now enjoy the convenience of playing online games from their mobile with higher quality experiences.

Use of social media apps is also on the rise, with a social media reach of 94.37% in Canada. Facebook accounts form around 60% of social media site visits, while TikTok usage has been growing at pace. Short form video content is being improved by AI personalization, providing Canadians with recommended content based on their viewing history and searches.

Video streaming on mobile apps such as Netflix and Prime Video is also becoming increasingly popular, while music apps including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music are leading the way in terms of how people in Canada listen to their favorite artists.

Growing Demand for iGaming

There has been a surge in online casino and sports betting activity in Canada, partly due to the changes in regulations to allow each province to regulate their own gambling frameworks. Ontario became the first province to set up a new iGaming approach, with people in Ontario able to access around 80 private online casinos that are regulated by the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission Ontario).

Other provinces are making the same move to introduce new regulatory frameworks to improve the online gambling experience for Canadians, with more options for playing a wide range of different casino games.

The latest technology is also helping to attract new players to iGaming in Canada, with VR-enabled games and options such as playing on an online casino in Canada, perhaps with a live dealer to enhance the immersiveness of games. Real-life interactions are becoming more important in Canadians’ gaming choices, and features that allow live chats with other players and the dealer in casino games like poker are making online gaming more sociable.

Video gamers who enjoy virtual reality gaming options are also exploring how VR is being implemented within online casinos. They are curious about what it feels like to walk around replicas of real casinos and interact within the gaming environment by wearing VR headsets.

While VR casino games are still at the early stages of being implemented, the demand for this type of entertainment is evident, so casino operators will be investing more efforts into progressing with VR tech in the coming years.

Live Concerts Remain Popular in Canada

Digital entertainment is overtaking many traditional types of entertainment in Canada but a survey conducted by Live Nation revealed that attending live concerts was the top choice of entertainment for Canadians. Seeing their favorite music artists perform at live venues was the top entertainment choice for four out of ten Canadians, ahead of sports, streaming and watching movies.

The digital era has driven many shifts in consumer behavior and preferences and as innovative technology continues to deliver exciting new entertainment experiences, we can expect to see many further consumer behavior changes in the years to come. Digital entertainment experiences are moving from a predominantly solo type of hobby to a more social pastime with online communities and real-life interactions creating a deeper sense of belonging.