Quebec Election Could Pave Way for Regulated iGaming Market
If Leger’s latest Quebec election poll released this morning is any indication, the province is one step closer to a regulated iGaming market, similar to what’s now in place in Ontario and Alberta. On Sept. 9, the Quebec Liberal Party released a plan detailing how it intended to modernize Quebec’s…
If Leger’s latest Quebec election poll released this morning is any indication, the province is one step closer to a regulated iGaming market, similar to what’s now in place in Ontario and Alberta. The Loto-Québec crown corporation might be looking at competition from private operators if either the Liberal Party or Parti Quebecois win the provincial election on Oct. 5. Image/Loto-Quebec On Sept. 9, the Quebec Liberal Party released a plan detailing how it intended to modernize Quebec’s civil service, including a mandate to expand the role of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, the provincial regulator for alcohol, horse racing and gaming-related activities. If elected Oct. 5, the Liberals said they will give the regulator authority to license and oversee all online gambling platforms operating in the province, while imposing rules regarding advertising, addiction prevention and the protection of minors. Liberals Back iGaming Reform The Liberals will create an independent organization dedicated to prevention and support for people struggling with gambling addiction, to be funded by the industry, not taxpayers. Also, the Liberals will give the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Régie the joint mandate to “fill the regulatory gap surrounding prediction markets,” currently accessible in Quebec without any regulatory framework. The Parti Québécois said in an interview with Radio-Canada that it would do the same if elected. PQ Takes Poll Lead According to the Leger poll, the race is shifting behind the Parti Québécois, which leads with 29% of decided voters, followed by the Liberals at 23%, then the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) at 21%. The CAQ has remained committed to not opening the market to private competitors, allowing the Loto-Québec crown corporation to maintain its monopoly in the province. Le Parti conservateur du Québec rose to 17% in the Leger poll. Prediction Markets Face Scrutiny The Leger poll and announcements by both the Liberals and the PQ were met with open arms by the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, which has been pushing for an Ontario-style online gaming model. The Coalition is an industry group representing major operators including DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Bet99, Rush Street and Apricot. “The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition is pleased that the election campaign is providing an opportunity to discuss the modernization of the regulatory framework for online gaming,” said Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition. “The positions taken by the various political parties demonstrate that a broad consensus is emerging in Quebec in favor of establishing clear rules that must apply equally to both Loto-Québec and private companies offering online gaming.” Industry Welcomes Political Shift According to industry data, iGaming market channelization rates across Canada for 2026 show the total available market in Quebec is CA$3.09 billion, with 27% channelled and 73% unregulated, and $2.3 billion in gross gaming revenue lost to the unregulated market. “The members of the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition look forward to working together with government authorities and stakeholders to turn these commitments into reality,” said Gauthier. The post Quebec Election Could Pave Way for Regulated iGaming Market appeared first on Casino.org.