Time to rethink
online betting rules
Will online gambling in Quebec ever go beyond the Loto-Québec site?
December 30, 2025 • Advertorial
Quebec’s Finance Ministry has made its position plain. The province will not follow Ontario’s path toward a regulated private market for online gambling. A spokesperson for the ministry cited concerns about advertising overexposure and problem gambling among young people as reasons to maintain Loto-Quebec‘s monopoly.
The crown corporation remains the sole legal option for residents who want to place bets on their phones or computers. Yet the question persists because the status quo has produced a peculiar outcome. Most of the money Quebec residents spend on online gambling goes to operators the province does not regulate and cannot tax.
The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, a group representing companies such as Betway, DraftKings, Flutter, and Rush Street Interactive, puts the annual loss at nearly $2 billion. This figure has given the coalition ammunition in its campaign for reform, and the 2026 provincial election may determine if that campaign gains traction.
The Numbers Behind Loto-Quebec
The crown corporation reported total revenue of $2.93 billion in fiscal year 2024. This was the second-highest total on record, though it represented a slight decline from the previous year. The casino and gaming halls sector contributed $906.8 million from April 1 to December 31, 2024, accounting for 40.7% of total revenues. Lottery brought in $703.4 million, and other gaming establishments added $645.5 million.
Most of the money Quebec residents spend on online gambling goes to operators the province does not regulate and cannot tax.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2024-2025, covering June 25 to September 30, 2024, total revenues reached $814.2 million. That marked a 16.1% increase over the same period in the prior year. Net income hit $421.6 million, up 18.5%.
These figures suggest a healthy operation. The coalition has a different interpretation. Ariane Gauthier, the coalition’s spokesperson, has pointed out that Loto-Quebec’s returns to the government have remained flat over 20 years and have declined when adjusted for inflation. She argues the crown corporation may be “ignoring that half of players are using private online gaming sites.”
Where Quebec Players Spend Their Money Now
If you want to play at Online Casinos in Quebec, Loto-Quebec holds the only provincial license. However, that has not stopped residents from placing bets elsewhere. Data indicates roughly 73% of online gambling activity in the province occurs outside the crown corporation’s platform. Players access offshore sportsbooks, international casino sites, and grey-market operators with little friction.
This split creates a financial problem that the coalition has quantified at nearly $2 billion annually in lost provincial revenue. Ontario saw similar patterns before 2022, but its regulated market now captures over 86% of player activity.
What Ontario Did Differently
Ontario opened its regulated market on April 4, 2022. The province allowed private operators to obtain licenses and compete alongside the provincial gaming corporation. The results have been measurable.
Gross gaming revenue from online gambling in Ontario hit $3.20 billion in 2024-25, a 32% increase from the previous year. Total wagers reached $82.7 billion, up 31%. Casino games drew $69.6 billion in wagers, while sports betting accounted for $11.4 billion. The province has licensed 54 operators since the market opened.
A joint study by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario found that 86.4% of Ontarians who gamble online now use regulated sites. The market has supported nearly 15,000 full-time jobs and contributed an estimated $1.24 billion in gaming and tax revenues to federal, provincial, and municipal governments in its second year.
The coalition commissioned accounting firm Mallette to study the Ontario model. The report found that iGaming Ontario generated close to $230 million in revenues after expenses for various levels of government in fiscal year 2022-2023, its first full year of operation. Ontario Lottery and Gaming revenue from online gaming increased by 31% during that period.
Why Quebec’s Government Remains Hesitant
The Finance Ministry has framed its opposition around public health. The spokesperson noted that experts believe deregulation, combined with mobile phone access, has increased problem gambling, particularly among young people. The ministry views Ontario’s experience as a cautionary example rather than a model.
Polling commissioned by the coalition suggests residents disagree with this assessment. According to their data, 67% of Quebec-based online gamblers support a licensing system that would regulate private-sector operators of mobile sportsbooks and casinos.
‘Alberta is expected to open its market to third-party operators and end its government monopoly. If this happens, Quebec would become increasingly isolated in its approach.’
The coalition’s argument centers on the idea that refusing to license private operators does not eliminate them from the market. It simply means the province cannot regulate their advertising, cannot enforce responsible gambling standards, and cannot collect tax revenue from its operations.
Election Year Politics
Quebec’s next provincial election is scheduled for October 2026. Current polling shows the Parti Québécois leading at 33%, well ahead of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec at 22%. The coalition sees this as an opportunity.
Gauthier has stated that the 2026 election presents a chance to bring online gambling reform into the platforms of all political parties. She has noted that a modernized regulatory framework could generate an additional $200 to $300 million annually for the province. For parties building campaign platforms, this represents a potential revenue source that does not require raising taxes.
Gauthier previously served as a public policy advisor to Premier Francois Legault. She has suggested the CAQ has free-market principles in its foundation, but appears reluctant to make changes while trailing in the polls. The coalition has not held direct meetings with Parti Québécois leadership but maintains contact with all parties. According to Gauthier, the PQ and Québec Solidaire have expressed interest in public safety and responsible gaming concerns, including the fact that Loto-Québec protects only 25% to 30% of online players.
‘A modernized regulatory framework could generate an additional $200 to $300 million annually for the province.’
The Coalition’s Timeline
Gauthier has acknowledged uncertainty about when reform might occur. She has said the current model is “completely outdated” and that the province needs to pivot, but she cannot promise a specific timeline. Her stated hope is that change comes sooner rather than later.
The coalition continues its advocacy work, and the 2026 election remains its primary focus. The outcome will depend on factors beyond gambling policy, including broader economic conditions and voter sentiment toward the current government. If the CAQ loses power, a new government may prove more receptive to the coalition’s arguments. If the CAQ retains control, the status quo will likely persist.
What Comes Next
Alberta is expected to open its market to third-party operators and end its government monopoly. If this happens, Quebec would become increasingly isolated in its approach. However, the government has made its position explicit: Quebec’s online gambling market will not open to private operators in the near term, and the current political situation does not favour reform. The coalition’s $2 billion figure represents lost revenue, but it also means revenue the province has chosen not to pursue.
The question is not if but when the math becomes impossible to ignore. Ontario’s model has produced measurable benefits. Alberta appears ready to follow. Quebec’s crown corporation continues to operate profitably, but it captures less than a third of the online market. The province collects nothing from the rest. Gauthier believes reform will happen eventually.
The timeline remains unknown.
Disclaimer: This advertorial does not necessarily reflect the views of WestmountMag.ca’s editorial team.
Feature image: John – Unsplash
