Quebec Election Opens Door to Ontario-Style Private iGaming Market

Quebec took a major step toward opening its online gaming market to private operators yesterday (Oct. 5), after the Parti Québécois (PQ) won the provincial election on a platform that includes regulating private iGaming and moving toward a competitive model similar to Ontario’s.

The PQ ended election night with 59 seats, five short of a majority government. The Quebec Liberal Party finished with 40 seats and will form the official opposition.

PQ Victory Changes Landscape

The Liberals also committed during the campaign to moving forward with a private iGaming model if elected.

Loto-Québec, the Crown corporation, is currently the only platform that Quebecers can go to gamble online legally.

Industry Sees Growing Consensus

“The election in Quebec brings a new political leadership with a different perspective on online gaming,” said Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), a lobby group in the province that’s been operating for three years, working on behalf of major commercial operators, including DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Bet99, Rush Street, and Apricot.

“Paul St-Pierre Plamondon [PQ leader and premier-designate] even congratulated the Liberal leader [Charles Milliard] for announcing it first during the electoral campaign. We think this is reform that’s gathering a large consensus that could be successfully put forward by the new Quebec government.”

Liberals Proposed Regulatory Overhaul

During the campaign, the Liberals released a government modernization plan that included expanding the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) — the provincial regulator for alcohol, horse racing, and gaming. The Liberals said they would empower the regulator to license and oversee all online gambling platforms in the province, while enforcing strict rules around advertising, addiction prevention, and consumer protection.

The PQ told Radio-Canada it would adopt a similar regulatory approach if elected. St-Pierre Plamondon said at a news conference today (Oct. 6) that he is already pushing ahead with several initiatives announced during the campaign.

Details Still Need Work

“Quebec has to decide what the specific rules will be that they would like to put in place and which independent organization will act as the regulator for all operators in the province, including Loto-Québec,” said Gauthier.

“These are not small changes. It is the foundation of a fair and secure environment. It will take some time to find the right approach, especially because it needs to be done in collaboration with stakeholders.”

Unregulated Market Looms Large

A private-sector study this summer found that Quebec’s total addressable iGaming market for 2026 is CAD $3.09 billion. Current channelization rates show that only 27% of play occurs within regulated channels, leaving 73% in the unregulated market and resulting in an estimated $2.3 billion in lost gross gaming revenue.

Loto-Québec has claimed that 81% of Quebec online players use its platform. A Mainstreet Research Study in 2023, released by QOGC, found that three out of four Quebec players surveyed (73%) chose privately operated platforms to play online casino games and bet on sports. The survey said that 72% of Québec players who use Loto-Québec’s Espace Jeux platform do so exclusively to buy lottery tickets.

Industry Calls Shift Significant

“The fact that the two leading parties in Quebec campaigned on creating an online gambling regulatory regime is encouraging,” said Troy Ross, president of TRM Public Affairs, who works with iGaming operators in the private sector. “Between the Parti Québécois and the Liberal Party of Quebec, they have more than enough seats to pass legislation and launch a model. 

“This represents a remarkable shift in government policy in Quebec. The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition has effectively built the case for regulation. We look forward to working with the new government on the details of this regulated market.”

Ontario Offers Regulatory Blueprint

Ontario’s private iGaming model went live in April 2022, with 49 licensed operators currently taking wagers across 84 websites in the province. The market generated CAD $4.04 billion in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) in 2025.

Alberta’s private iGaming market went live in July, with 36 live websites taking wagers.

“It’s important to remember that in Quebec, Loto-Québec is not regulated by La Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux du Québec (RACJ),” said Amanda Brewer, senior vice president, policy and communications, Canadian Gaming Association.

“So the province would need to establish a regulator and likely a conduct and manage entity like iGO and AiGC, so I wouldn’t use ‘fast’ to describe anything that may happen in Quebec.”

Casino.org reached out to Loto-Québec for comment, but we’ven’t heard back yet.