Lead brief
Quebec is weighing significant iGaming regulatory reform as a new poll and political platform signal potential end to Loto-Québec’s online gambling monopoly. Modeled after Ontario, the move could reshape online casino regulation, channel offshore play, and boost provincial revenue.
Coverage frame
This piece sits inside the wider 31Casino news desk, where single developments are read against regulation, market structure, and reader relevance.
Primary source base
- ▸A new Léger poll suggests increasing public support for ending Loto-Québec’s iGaming monopoly.
- ▸The Quebec Liberal Party has announced a platform to introduce a regulated commercial online gambling market.
- ▸Proposed reforms would expand the role of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.
- ▸Quebec’s plan follows Ontario’s recent iGaming regulatory model, potentially opening the market to private operators.
What Happened
Quebec’s tightly controlled online casino sector could see significant changes following developments in the ongoing provincial election campaign. A recent Léger poll, published early this week, identified growing public support for breaking Loto-Québec’s exclusive hold over legal iGaming in the province. In response, the Quebec Liberal Party released a government modernization platform on September 9 that includes a proposal to expand the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ), aiming to open the province’s online gambling market to commercial operators under a regulated framework.
Currently, Loto-Québec operates the only legal online casino and sportsbook in the province. However, like many other Canadian regions, Quebec faces widespread participation in unlicensed offshore sites, despite the province’s attempts to restrict access and promote its state-run portal.
Why It Matters
The prospect of ending Loto-Québec’s monopoly holds deep significance for the Canadian gambling landscape. Quebec is Canada’s second-most populous province, home to more than 8.7 million residents, with a robust appetite for online gaming. If regulatory reform proceeds, Quebec would join Ontario, which opened its market to regulated private operators in April 2022, and Alberta, where discussions about commercial iGaming expansion are also underway.
The move addresses persistent concerns about unregulated online casino activity. Despite Loto-Québec’s online offering, estimates from Canadian Gaming Association and various market studies indicate that a significant portion of Quebecers wager on offshore gambling sites, placing local consumers outside provincial oversight and depriving the government of potential tax revenue.
Over 8 million Quebec residents — a population size that, if properly channeled, could turn Quebec into one of the country’s most lucrative regulated iGaming markets.
Launching a competitive, regulated environment would allow Quebec to exert greater control over online gambling, set higher responsible gambling standards, and collect more transparent tax revenue from operators. In Ontario, where iGaming regulation took effect just over two years ago, over 40 private brands have entered the market, driving billions in reported wagers and over CAD 260 million in tax contributions within the first full year.
Adopting a model similar to Ontario’s could help Quebec better protect players, curb the influence of offshore operators, and increase funding for public programs. The proposal’s inclusion in a mainstream party platform and the supporting poll signal strong political momentum as the election approaches.
Industry Context
The broader move to regulated iGaming in Canada is gaining momentum as provinces seek to modernize gambling policy and maximize economic benefit. Ontario’s market, launched in April 2022, marked a turning point, providing a structured licensing regime and comprehensive consumer safeguards. Alberta published its own consultation on commercial iGaming in February 2024, underscoring a shift away from provincial monopolies toward open but regulated markets.
Quebec’s online gambling market, however, has lagged behind in delivering the choice and protections seen in Ontario. The likely adoption of an Ontario-style model could prompt other provinces still relying on a single-operator approach to consider similar reforms.
The developments also align with ongoing national debates around Canada gambling regulation, particularly about how best to address proliferation of offshore sites and harmonize responsible gambling frameworks across provincial borders.
Regulatory Background
Loto-Québec, established in 1969 and state-owned, controls all legal casino, lottery, and sports betting activity in Quebec, including its online platform Espacejeux. Provincial attempts to block access to offshore gambling websites, including a 2016 law mandating internet service providers restrict such sites, have faced legal challenges and questions of jurisdiction.
The proposed expansion of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux would empower Quebec’s existing regulator to license and supervise private online casino and sportsbook operators. This parallels Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission, which oversees licensing, compliance, and enforcement for that province’s competitive gambling market.
What Happens Next
With the provincial election set for autumn, the Liberal Party’s proposal will likely become a focal point in campaign debates and policy analysis. Should the party enter government and proceed with reforms, Quebec regulators could begin stakeholder consultations and draft new licensing guidelines, potentially opening the market as early as 2025. The political outcome will determine whether Quebec follows Ontario’s path to a multi-operator, regulated iGaming framework.
Sources
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