A coalition of online gaming companies and industry stakeholders has renewed calls for Québec to open its online gambling market to commercial operators. The Québec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC) argues that the province’s current monopoly structure limits growth potential, reduces tax income and fails to reflect how residents already engage with online gaming platforms.
The group’s position comes amid broader discussions about regulatory approaches across Canada, where Ontario currently operates a commercial iGaming framework and Alberta plans to introduce a similar model later this year.
Pressure Mounts On Québec’s Monopoly Structure
Loto-Québec, the province’s state-owned gaming corporation established in 1969, oversees lotteries, casinos, gaming halls, bingo venues, video lottery terminals and online gambling. It also represents Québec within the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, which manages nationwide lottery offerings.
Financial performance has remained strong in traditional segments. The corporation reported CAD 1.53 billion in revenue between April and September 2025, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase. Critics note that online gaming growth during the same period reached 17 percent, which some observers interpret as comparatively modest expansion.
The Québec Online Gaming Coalition estimates the province forfeits roughly CAD 300 million annually in tax revenue because private operators lack a regulated pathway to operate locally. The coalition also cites the presence of approximately 2,000 unregulated websites offering casino games, sports betting and poker to Québec residents.
Public health specialists and researchers have supported regulatory reform discussions, noting concerns about player protection where unregulated platforms operate outside formal oversight.
Coalition spokesperson Ariane M. Gauthier commented: “Why limit the regulation of online gaming to Loto-Québec sites alone, when the offering available on the Internet is much broader? Quebec could very well apply the same rules to private online gaming platforms, whether for advertising, age verification, or accountability, for example. This would channel the vast majority of online gaming into a stable and regulated environment, which is desirable for everyone.”
Survey data referenced by the coalition indicates that two-thirds of Québec residents favour regulating private operators through licensing and taxation. The same research suggests that 73 percent of players already use private platforms for online gaming and sports betting.
Industry Context And Expansion Trends Across Canada
Members of the coalition include several international and domestic operators such as DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Rush Street Interactive, Bet99, Games Global and Apricot Investments. Many of these companies already operate within Ontario’s regulated iGaming market.
Ontario’s commercial framework generated more than CAD 1.4 billion in its first year, producing substantial tax income for the province. Alberta has signalled plans to introduce its own regulatory model, with some operators already expressing interest in entering that market.
FanDuel, BetRivers, Betway and Games Global have indicated interest in Alberta, where revenue projections reach into the hundreds of millions. These developments suggest increasing momentum toward broader commercial adoption of regulated iGaming across Canadian provinces.
At present, Ontario remains the only province with a fully commercial online gaming system, while jurisdictions such as Québec continue to rely on government-operated platforms.
Proposed Framework For Market Reform
The Québec Online Gaming Coalition outlined several recommendations for policymakers based on developments in Ontario and Alberta. These proposals include establishing an independent regulatory authority responsible for overseeing all online gaming operators, including Loto-Québec.
Additional suggestions involve creating unified regulatory standards applicable to both public and private operators, defining licensing requirements and introducing revenue-sharing arrangements between operators and the provincial government. The coalition also recommends allocating a portion of gaming revenue to community programmes and responsible gambling initiatives.
In a separate policy submission, the coalition stressed that failure to regulate online gaming leaves players exposed to inconsistent protections while limiting government revenue potential. It stated that regulatory clarity would support consumer safety, anti-money laundering measures, responsible gaming initiatives and advertising oversight.
The organisation indicated willingness to collaborate with government authorities and industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive regulatory structure aligned with evolving market conditions.
Source:
Quebec must act to regulate online gaming, Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, coalitionjeuligneqc.ca, February 9, 2026.
