The largest private online gambling companies, whose activities remain illegal in Quebec, are joining forces to increase pressure on Quebec and ultimately gain the right to compete with the Loto-Quebec monopoly.
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Through the voice of the new Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, companies like Bet99, Draftkings and RushStreet claim they want to work with Quebec to create a regulatory framework, allowing the country to grow its revenue by establishing a permitting system, taxes and fees .
Ontario, which introduced such a framework in 2022, would have managed to generate $380 million from the activities of these companies in the first year, argues spokeswoman Nathalie Bergeron. “If we had taken the same route, that of a market access permit, it is estimated that we could have attracted Quebec $231 million.”
Yesterday, Loto-Québec President and CEO Jean-François Bergeron was unable to respond to the announcement. However, their spokesman, Renaud Dugas, pointed out that members of the new coalition are already violating Canada’s Penal Code [en offrant illégalement des jeux en ligne aux Québécois] raised “many doubts and questions as to her true interest”.
“In Quebec, he continued, there is no ambiguity, if it’s not Loto-Québec, it’s not legal.” Loto-Québec is the only company operating a 100% legal online sports betting and casino website in Quebec can operate.”
Our interview request to the office of Finance Minister Éric Girard, head of Loto-Québec, remained unanswered at the time of writing. In February, following reports of the devastating experience suffered by fans of online gambling, Mr Girard said he was considering a way to stop these companies from offering such games to Quebecers.
Recall that in 2016, Philippe Couillard’s government passed a law that would force internet service providers to block access to sites deemed illegal. The Quebec Supreme Court ruled that law unconstitutional in 2018, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeals three years later.
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