Quebec Could Be The Next Province To Regulate Online Casinos and Betting Sites

With Quebec's provincial election set for October 5, the province's current iGaming market has emerged as a key talking point in the provincial election campaign, with both the Parti Québécois and Quebec Liberal Party supporting regulation of private online gambling platforms. 

Currently, Loto-Québec is the only operator legally authorized to offer online casino games and sports betting in the province, through Mise-o-jeu+. However, offshore gambling sites continue to accept players from Quebec despite not being regulated or authorized by the province.

This has led to two major concerns for Quebec. The first is player protection. Private operators outside the provincial system are not subject to rules governing advertising, responsible gambling measures and protection of minors. The Liberal Party's proposal would address this by expanding the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux to accredit and oversee private platforms, while introducing stricter rules around advertising and problem gambling. 

The second issue is revenue. Unlike Ontario and Alberta, Quebec does not currently collect a share of gaming revenue from privately operated sites serving players in the province. Ontario's regulated iGaming market generated $2.9 billion in total gaming revenue during the 2024–25 fiscal year, with iGaming Ontario retaining $574.1 million in net gaming revenue after payments to operators.

With the continued consequences of unregulated gambling activity and foregone provincial revenue, iGaming reform has now pushed itself into the election campaign. Liberal leader Charles Milliard has proposed bringing private operators under provincial regulation, while Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has publicly supported the idea as Quebec considers whether to follow the regulated models introduced in Ontario and Alberta.

Should private iGaming reform be pursued by either party after the election, Quebec will likely adopt a regulated market similar to those already established in Ontario and Alberta.

The first step would likely involve expanding the authority of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, allowing it to establish the regulatory framework private operators would need to follow before legally offering sports betting or online casino games in Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party has already proposed expanding the Régie's mandate so that it can license and oversee online gambling platforms operating in the province. 

This will most likely also require the creation of a separate committee responsible for commercial agreements between the Régie and private operators. These have functioned well in Ontario with iGaming Ontario, and Alberta with the AiG

A regulated market would also be expected to introduce stricter controls over operators that continue serving Quebec players without provincial authorization. Licensed platforms would be required to comply with rules surrounding advertising, responsible gambling and the protection of minors, while operators remaining outside the regulated system could face restrictions or enforcement measures. 

Advertising would likely become one of the most noticeable changes for players. Ontario, for example, prohibits the broad public advertising of gambling bonuses and inducements, while Alberta requires licensed operators to follow standards governing responsible gambling messaging and advertising that could appeal to minors.

Quebec's exact regulations would depend on the framework adopted by the next government, but the proposals currently being discussed point toward greater operator oversight, stronger player protections and tighter controls on how online gambling is promoted throughout the province.