New Brunswick has introduced a bill that would allow the provincial government to establish regulations for live online casino games.
- A new bill would establish regulatory powers over live online casino games in the Picture Province.
- The changes would update the province’s Gaming Control Act.
- Supporters include the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, New Brunswick’s Public Safety Minister, and the province’s Finance and Treasury Board Minister.
The bill, tabled in the province’s legislative assembly, would represent a change to the existing Gaming Control Act, which does not give the government the authority to establish regulations for live casino gaming.
The change was proposed by the province’s monopoly lottery provider, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC).
New Brunswick Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said the change was needed to keep legislation aligned with evolving gambling products.
“As gaming continues to evolve, legislation must keep pace to ensure games continue to be regulated and responsible, and that rules are effective and clear,” Gauvin said.
He added, “With a greater variety of online offerings, live casinos are growing in popularity. Regulating these types of games will provide a safer alternative to unregulated offerings in the province.”
Finance and Treasury Board Minister Rene Legacy said the changes would help ensure new gaming options develop within a regulated framework.
The government has said, however, that specific regulations on live New Brunswick online casino gaming would be brought forward at a later date.
The proposal comes at a time of rising concern about the growth of illegal online gambling in Atlantic Canada. Earlier this month, the ALC warned that unlicensed gambling operators were affecting its business.
The ALC’s CEO and president, Dallas McCready, said, “These operators are drawing significant gaming dollars out of Atlantic Canada, contribute nothing to provincial revenues in our region, and are not subject to the same healthy play and consumer protection requirements that govern Atlantic Lottery.”
Atlantic Lottery returns CA$492M to Atlantic provinces
Alongside the proposed regulatory changes in New Brunswick, the ALC announced it has returned CA$492.1 million in net profit to the four provinces where it operates - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador - during its 2025-26 financial year.
New Brunswick accounted for CA$148.9 million of the total, down 3.7% from CA$154.6 million in 2024-25.
In its latest annual report, the ALC said the profits helped fund public services, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure, although it also noted it faced increased competition from illegal online gambling operators.
The corporation estimated approximately CA$250 million leaves Atlantic Canada every year through illegal operators.
The ALC reported that it had returned nearly CA$13.4 billion in profit to the four provinces, awarded CA$13 billion in prizes, and paid more than CA$4.6 billion in retailer commissions.
