Québec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), an industry-led group founded in 2023, recently put out a statement urging the Quebec government to regulate online gambling in Canada’s second-largest province.
The group, led by some of the most influential iGaming insiders, once again reminded the government that it’s leaving upwards of $300 million in tax revenue each year on the table, while simultaneously putting vulnerable persons at risk by not offering a regulated online gambling market.
Currently, more than 2,000 iGaming sites operate in some capacity in Québec, offering online casino, sports betting, and poker games, all without a locally issued license or a singular set of regulations.
While the neighboring Ontario regulated its iGaming market with great success in 2022, Quebec continues to maintain a state monopoly on regulated iGaming, dominated by the provincial Loto-Québec site.
QOGC Issues Recommendations for iGaming Regulations
QOGC offered the Québec government a set of recommendations in its recent statement, informed by guidance from public health experts and researchers, as well as the experiences of Ontario and Alberta.
Four key recommendations were made:
- Independent regulatory body: The province should establish an independent iGaming regulator to oversee all online gambling entities, private or public.
- Quebec iGaming standards: A set of government standards should be imposed to regulate all online gambling.
- Licenses for private operators: A set of criteria should be put in place to allow private companies to obtain gaming licenses, along with a revenue-share agreement.
- Support for communities and prevention: A portion of the revenue generated from iGaming should be allocated to community programs and gambling prevention.
The Coalition repeated its commitment to working with the local authorities and industry stakeholders to create a healthy and successful online gambling framework, while addressing the issues of consumer safety, money laundering, responsible gambling, and advertising, among others.
What Would Québec Regulation Mean for Online Poker?
Ever since a regulated Québec online gambling market was first floated a couple of years ago, online poker operators have shown interest in launching their products in Canada’s second most populous province.
Following the successful launch of Ontario online poker back in 2022, operators like GGPoker, PokerStars, and BetMGM would likely jump at the opportunity to obtain gaming licenses and launch online poker in Québec.
This would be even more true if the provincial authorities decided to follow the recommendations of QOGC to create a multi-provincial market for online poker, which would allow players across Ontario, Alberta, and Québec to play in a joint player pool.
Should an agreement similar to MSIGA, which allows players across multiple states in the US online poker market to play in a joint player pool, be put into place, players participating in online poker in Canada could soon be playing in one of the largest regulated online poker markets in the world.
A QOGC poll in 2023 found that two-thirds of Québecers support an expanded regulated igaming market, while only one quarter of them use the government-operated Loto-Québec, clearly demonstrating that a large number of players still use offshore gaming sites on a regular basis.
Will Québec Expand its iGaming Market Soon?
Despite the calls from organizations like QOGC and various industry stakeholders, the overall interest of the Québec government in expanding the iGaming market to include private operators appears to be limited.
Speculation persists, but there are currently no set dates or clear paths forward for an expanded iGaming market, which could include private gaming operators.
Yet, considering developments in neighboring provinces (including the expected launch of Alberta online poker later this year) and the general trend toward iGaming regulation, it is more than likely that the province will create a legal framework for private operators to get licenses, but the timeframe for such expansion remains a mystery.
