The moment of truth may be drawing near for private-sector operators of online sportsbooks and casinos that are trying to get the Quebec government to see the light.
Key Points
- An election is looming in Quebec, which presents an opportunity for private-sector operators of online sportsbooks and casinos trying to gain regulated access to the province.
- The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition has been trying to make the case for a new regulated market in the province for more than two years, and hopes to use the coming election to try to get the issue on the radar of local politicians.
- Data presented at the Canadian Gaming Summit suggests that government-owned Loto-Québec, the only authorized iGaming operator in the province, has a market share of around 27%, meaning most wagering may happen with unregulated operators.
That’s because an election is fast approaching in Quebec, Canada’s second-most populous province, and must be held by Oct. 5, 2026.
This presents an opening for those who would like to see changes made to the status quo for Quebec sports betting and iGaming, which the province currently only authorizes via the government-owned Loto-Québec.
“For us, the 2026 election is an opportunity, an additional opportunity, to bring this issue into the platforms of all political parties and to have a government that will take on this challenge starting in 2026,” said Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, during an interview with Covers at last week’s Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto.
Some Canadian iGaming channelization data presented by lobbyist Troy Ross. Says it shows provinces (other than Ontario and eventually Alberta) are leaving hundreds of millions in revenue on the table. pic.twitter.com/xBJnmHBzpb
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) June 18, 2025
The Quebec coalition is made up of private-sector iGaming operators that have been trying for more than two years to get the provincial government to adopt an online gambling framework similar to what Ontario has done and what Alberta plans to do.
That would mean authorizing and regulating multiple private-sector participants, rather than allowing Loto-Québec to continue with its legal monopoly.
Quebec would be a significant market for private iGaming operators given its population of more than 8 million people, similar in size to a state like Virginia.
Founding members of the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition include some operators that are active in states such as Virginia as well, like DraftKings, FanDuel-parent Flutter Entertainment, and BetMGM-co-owner Entain.
That's enough reform for now, thanks
Thus far, though, the going has been slow. Moreover, with a provincial election just over a year away, the governing Coalition Avenir Québec party and Premier François Legault are trailing in the polls, which may keep them from any drastic changes to online gambling.
Gauthier was a public policy advisor to Legault during his first mandate, and said she remains convinced that it is in the DNA of the CAQ to be more free market and disruptive than others.
That said, Gauthier told Covers that the governing party appears to have lost “a bit of momentum” of late.
“And now they are more reluctant to make changes,” she added.
The government is also not under a lot of pressure to make those changes, at least not yet. Gauthier said governments feel that pressure when the media is constantly talking about an issue and when opposition parties are persistently raising it in the legislature.
That's not the case with iGaming reform at the moment.
Channel(ization) change
Enter the coalition, which is trying to make iGaming an issue and challenge the province’s status quo.
“I think now the issue exists in Quebec, but it's not yet at a point to drive change,” Gauthier said. “We have to continue to build this media pressure.”
The coalition is also building up more and more data it can share with lawmakers and media to try to create momentum for its cause.
Gauthier’s group has taken aim at Loto-Québec's "stagnant" profits and can now point to data presented by lobbyist Troy Ross, president of TRM Public Affairs, during last week's Canadian Gaming Summit.
The latter suggested approximately 27% of all online gambling in Quebec takes place with Loto-Québec, which would mean around three-quarters of iGaming happens with operators not regulated by the province or paying tax to its government.
In Ontario, where the provincial government launched in 2022 the type of market that the Quebec coalition is pursuing, more than 80% of iGaming happens with provincially regulated operators.
Something for everybody
Whether that resonates enough with Quebec political parties before or after the elections remains to be seen.
Gauthier said she has "moderate" expectations of any change from the CAQ government, but noted that the coalition has been speaking to all political parties right from its inception in May 2023.
“I think the reception from the different political parties is different because there are different interests,” Gauthier told Covers. “I think we've had very good discussions with the Quebec Liberal Party. As for the [Parti Québécois] and Québec Solidaire, they are very interested in public safety, responsible gaming, how we completely miss the mark. With Loto-Québec protecting around 25% to 30% of the players online, it leaves a lot of people playing on the unregulated market.”
Another data point Gauthier and the coalition anticipate pointing to eventually is the launch of the new Alberta sports betting and iGaming market, which is expected to happen early next year.
A coalition of gambling companies is lobbying the Quebec government to launch something similar to what Ontario has, which is a competitive market for online sports betting and casino gaming. BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel are among those involved:https://t.co/tjkunJx2k4 pic.twitter.com/CsQW2cKuSF
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) May 23, 2023
The Alberta government is also proposing to let its lottery and gaming corporation continue to be an iGaming operator while also regulating the new, private operators.
That is something Gauthier thinks could be more relevant in Quebec than the Ontario model, as Loto-Québec is also both regulator and operator.
While private-sector operators don’t love the idea of competing with the regulator, that’s the way it’s currently going to be in Alberta.
However, after Alberta launches its competitive iGaming market, the question will no doubt be asked: who’s next? Gauthier, for one, believes it’s “inevitable” that Quebec eventually takes the plunge.
“The current model is completely outdated and we need to pivot,” she told Covers. “Will it be in one year, two years, or five years? I can’t promise that, but it will happen, and I hope sooner than later.”
