Preferred Board Games in Each Canadian Province and Territory
In March 2023, a survey was conducted to determine the favourite board game by province and how often Canadians play. The survey, which questioned 3,000 Canadian residents, has shed light on the board game preferences across the country.
The results show that Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island share a fondness for Catan, a strategic game that has gained a cult following since its release in 1995. Interestingly, these provinces, along with New Brunswick, have the lowest percentage of active board game players, with many only playing once a year, usually during the Christmas holidays.
Newfoundland and Labrador comes in second place for active board game players, with a significant portion playing every couple of months. The Game of Life, a family-friendly game, is the most popular in this province, as well as in Yukon.
Alberta takes the lead as the province with the most active board game players, with many playing regularly. Monopoly, a classic board game, is the most-loved in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario. Ontario, however, comes in third place for active board game players.
Scrabble is the top choice in Manitoba, while Uno reigns supreme in Saskatchewan. Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon enjoy board games a couple of times a year.
The survey also revealed a growing interest in online casino games in Canada, particularly in Ontario, where online gambling became legal in 2022. Some of the hottest online casino titles include Buffalo from Aristocrat and Cleopatra from IGT.
However, it's important to note that there are no specific publicly available data as of 2025 about the most popular board games in each province or which provinces have the most active player bases. To gain more insight, one might explore local board game cafes and stores in each province, provincial board game clubs or meetup groups, or national board gaming organizations or surveys for demographics and preferences.
Despite the decline in the popularity of traditional board games due to technological advancements, games like Catan, Monopoly, Scrabble, and The Game of Life continue to bring people together and offer a timeless form of entertainment.
- In contrast to the traditional board games, an increasing number of Canadians are showing an interest in online casino games, particularly those in Ontario, where online gambling was legalized in 2022.
- Some of the popular online casino titles include Buffalo from Aristocrat and Cleopatra from IGT, which are gaining traction among Canadian players.
- While data about the most popular board games and active player bases in each province is not readily available, exploring local board game cafes, provincial clubs, meetup groups, or national surveys may provide more insight into the preferences of different regions.
