Quebec's private gaming firms demand stricter online betting regulations
A group of private gaming companies is pushing for stricter regulation of online betting in Quebec. The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, formed in May 2023, wants the province to follow Ontario's model by opening the market to licensed operators. Their proposals include new rules for licensing and revenue sharing with the government. The Coalition, which includes major firms like Betway, Bet99, DraftKings, and Entain, submitted a brief to Quebec's Ministry of Finance. It outlined four key recommendations. One proposal calls for an independent regulator to oversee all online gaming, whether public or private. Another suggests setting clear standards for licensing and requiring operators to share profits with the province.
Currently, Loto-Québec remains the only legal platform for online betting in the province. The Coalition argues that around 2,000 unregulated 'grey market' sites still offer sports betting, casino games, and poker. They estimate Quebec loses over CAD $300 million in annual tax revenue by not regulating these operators.
The group also wants part of the profits from private gaming to fund community programmes and addiction prevention. Meanwhile, Incentive Games has announced its real-money and free-to-play content will soon appear on Loto-Québec's platform. If adopted, the Coalition's plan would reshape Quebec's online gaming market. A regulated system could bring in more tax revenue while reducing illegal betting. The government has yet to respond to the proposals.
