Quebec Gaming Coalition Calls for Regulatory Clarity After Montreal Study
A Nov. 5 study by the Montreal Regional Public Health Department (DRSPM) and Concordia University highlighting the growing popularity of online gambling in the city underscores the need for greater clarity on the Quebec government’s plans to regulate the market ahead of its fall economic update, ac…
A Nov. 5 study by the Montreal Regional Public Health Department (DRSPM) and Concordia University highlighting the growing popularity of online gambling in the city underscores the need for greater clarity on the Quebec government’s plans to regulate the market ahead of its fall economic update, according to the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition. From left, Troy Ross, President, TRM Public Affairs, Ariane Gauthier, Spokesperson, Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, Patrick Harris, President, Rubicon Strategy, and Jill Walker, Partner, GW Group, during a panel discussion at the SBC Summit Canada in Toronto. (Image: Mark Keast) According to the study, even as participation in traditional forms of gambling continues to decline, a majority of Montreal adults who gamble online use unregulated platforms either exclusively or alongside the government-owned Loto-Québec, currently the only regulated platform. Online Gambling Participation Triples “Because of the many platforms offering online gaming from abroad, outside the regulated network of the state-owned corporation Loto-Québec, regulating this form of gaming is particularly complex and partially beyond the control of Quebec’s public authorities,” said Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition. “This is currently a source of concern in Quebec and an issue identified in several jurisdictions around the world (capital flight, intrusive marketing, fraud, and impacts on the safety and health of players).” The survey of 8,500 adults found that 13.3% participated in online gambling in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2018, according to the Montreal Gazette. Unregulated Platforms Attract Players Among online gamblers, 38% exclusively used unregulated websites, while another 16% used both unregulated platforms and Loto-Québec. Young men aged 18 to 34 were identified as particularly vulnerable, with 7.4% exhibiting problematic gambling behaviors, compared with 4.6% of gamblers overall. The newly elected Parti Québécois (PQ) minority government previously said it intended to introduce an Ontario-style, regulated iGaming market. The opposition Liberal Party has also said it favours an iGaming market that opens the door to private operators. Young Men Face Greater Risks “The budget update, expected in the coming weeks, is an opportunity for the new Minister of Finance, Nicolas Marceau, to announce concrete measures to support the Parti Québécois’s commitment to cleaning up the online gaming sector,” she said. “By establishing a regulatory framework for online gaming that applies to all operators—both Loto-Québec and private companies—the government will finally have the leverage to properly regulate the entire sector.” Advertising Concerns Remain Widespread The government has yet to announce an official date for a full provincial budget. The findings also revealed widespread concerns about gambling advertising and accessibility. Nearly three-quarters of Montreal adults (73%) supported banning online gambling advertising, while 70% believed gambling was too accessible. Overall gambling participation, meanwhile, declined from 54.5% in 2018 to 39% in 2025. The post Quebec Gaming Coalition Calls for Regulatory Clarity After Montreal Study appeared first on Casino.org.