Quebec Gaming Coalition Urges Market Reform as Offshore Use Surges

The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition called on the provincial government on Thursday, November 5, to dismantle Loto-Québec’s state monopoly and open the market to private operators. 

The demand follows landmark research from Concordia University and the Montreal Regional Public Health Department (DRSPM) revealing that over half of Montreal’s online gamblers now use unregulated offshore websites.

With Quebec’s fall economic update approaching, coalition leaders are pushing newly appointed Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau to clarify the government’s timeline for a licensed iGaming framework.

Online Gambling Triples in Seven Years

The DRSPM and Concordia study, which surveyed approximately 8,500 adults, highlighted a stark divergence in local betting habits. While overall gambling participation in Montreal fell from 54.5% in 2018 down to 39% in 2025, online play skyrocketed.

According to the data, 13.3% of Montreal adults gambled online in 2025 – more than triple the 4.4% reported in 2018.

54% of Bettors Bypass Loto-Québec

Loto-Québec currently stands as the province’s sole authorized online operator, but the report shows players are flocking elsewhere. Among respondents who gamble online, 38% exclusively use unregulated offshore sites, while another 16% split their time between state-run services and grey-market options.

Combined, 54% of active online gamblers are using platforms outside provincial oversight. Coalition spokesperson Ariane Gauthier pointed to the offshore surge as proof that the current single-operator model is failing. “Because of the many platforms offering online gaming from abroad, outside the regulated network of the state-owned corporation Loto-Québec, regulating this form of gaming is particularly complex and partially beyond the control of Quebec’s public authorities,” Gauthier said.

Political Support Builds for Ontario-Style Market

The coalition wants Quebec to mirror Ontario’s open-market model, which allows licensed private operators to compete directly under provincial regulation and taxation.

Political momentum has shifted in that direction. Quebec’s newly elected Parti Québécois (PQ) minority government previously signalled its intention to open the iGaming sector to private brands, a position shared by the opposition Liberal Party. However, the government has yet to publish a concrete timeline or legislative blueprint for the transition.

Pressure Mounts on Fall Economic Update

The coalition says the upcoming fiscal update is the ideal moment to formalize those promises. Gauthier called directly on Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau to outline the province’s regulatory strategy before the year ends.

“The budget update, expected in the coming weeks, is an opportunity for the new Minister of Finance, Nicolas Marceau, to announce concrete measures to support the Parti Québécois’s commitment to cleaning up the online gaming sector,” Gauthier said. “By establishing a regulatory framework for online gaming that applies to all operators – both Loto-Québec and private companies – the government will finally have the leverage to properly regulate the entire sector.”

All eyes now turn to the National Assembly’s fall economic update, where Marceau is expected to address whether Quebec will officially open its market to private operators in 2026.