Nanos Research: Over 500,000 Quebecers Set to Wager on the Super Bowl

Like Ontario, Quebecers will be betting big on Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

According to just-released data from Nanos Research, more than 577K adult Quebecers are expected to wager on the game. It’s estimated that total bets will surpass $14 million.

The only platform where Quebecers can bet legally on sports is Loto-Québec’s Mise-o-jeu.

The results of the Nanos study were released Friday by the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), with an objective in mind – to illustrate the growing popularity of sports betting in the province, and the need for the government there to introduce a new, open, regulated, Ontario-style iGaming market that better responds to Quebecer demand while, at the same time, promoting responsible gambling while protecting players from nefarious activities among operators in the offshore market.

Quebecers Betting Big

“In the age of the internet, Loto-Québec’s model has become outdated,” said Ariane M. Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC). “Quebec needs to modernize its laws to ensure consistent protection for all players, whether they choose to bet on private platforms or with Loto-Québec.”

The QOGC, comprised of Betway, Bet99, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter, Games Global, and Rush Street Interactive, partnering with Apricot Investments, is committed to working with the Quebec government and local stakeholders to develop a new regulatory framework for the province.

How Many People are Betting On Illegal Private Platforms?

The Super Bowl is the most lucrative event for sports betting at Loto-Québec. In a statement on Friday, the QOGC quoted a report from Concordia University and Laval University revealing that the proportion of Quebecers who participate in online gaming has tripled since the pandemic – 5.2% in 2018 to 15.6% in 2020.

Gauthier also cited survey results from Mainstreet Research in 2023 finding that 73% of players in Quebec choose private platforms over Loto-Québec.

The research also found that over two-thirds of Quebec players (67%) are in favor of regulated private online gaming operators by setting up a licensing and tax regime like the one in Ontario.