Recently, a number of the top online gaming companies banded together to support regulation and responsible gambling in Quebec. The industry-led group, generally known as the Québec Online Gaming Coalition, will collaborate closely with the province of Quebec and regional stakeholders. It will create a brand-new regulatory structure that benefits the province's online gambling sector the most. Visit our Quebec online casinos guide to find out more.
Coalition has Well-Known Members with Common Objectives
Members of the group come from a wide range of gambling-related backgrounds, including everything from sports betting to online casinos. The eight members who make up the alliance include:
- RushStreet: Rushstreet made its debut in the Canadian market with CASINO4FUN, a social gaming platform that launched in the province of Ontario. The company is also behind the immensely popular BetRivers online casino and sportsbook, catering to players in Ontario with a license from the AGCO.
- Games Global: Established in 2021, Games Global is a Canadian-based game developer who supplies captivating titles to more than 50 studios, including Triple Edge Studios and Stormcraft Studios. The company offers more than 1,000 games and provides professional services, certification and world-class testing to the global gaming industry.
- Flutter: As a global gaming, entertainment and betting provider, Flutter operates some of the most distinctive, diverse and innovative brands in the world, including FanDuel, Sportsbet, Pokerstars Casino, PaddyPower, Betfair and FoxBet.
- Entain: Entain is one of the largest gaming and sports betting groups in the world and is licensed to operate in over 20 countries stretching across 5 continents. Some of the company's biggest brands include BWin Casino, Ladbrokes, Coral, Party Casino, BetMGM Casino, Party Poker, Unibet and Borgata. The company also acquired Sports Interaction, a Canadian-owned site operating in Kahnawake.
- DraftKings: Launched in 2012, DraftKings was initially a daily fantasy sports site before it evolved into an online casino and sportsbook in New Jersey. In May 2022, the company launched its products and services in the regulated market of Ontario and will hope to do the same in Quebec.
- Bet99: Established in 2021, Bet99 has rapidly become one of the leading iGaming entertainment hubs in the Canadian market. Players in Ontario are already enjoying sporting betting action and more than 1,500 games on desktop and mobile. Make sure to read our Bet99 Casino review to find out more!
- Betway: Founded in 2006, Betway offers a sportsbook and online casino in Canada, including an Ontario online casino and betting site. Players can enjoy more than 500 games on both desktop and mobile devices and look forward to a generous welcome package on their initial deposit. Read our all-inclusive Betway Casino review to find out more!
- Apricot Investments: In 2018, Microgaming announced that it has officially changed its name to Apricot Investments. The re-branding will allow the company to act as an investment vehicle and start pursuing wider interests in the gaming and interactive gambling industry. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Apricot Investments has an interest in the online gambling market of Quebec.
Together, the coalition will campaign for open regulation that prioritizes player protection and responsible gaming. The coalition also intends to handle escalating advertising concerns and boost tax collections by introducing a new licensing scheme for capable private operators.
In Reaction to Poll Results, a Quebec Casino Coalition was Created
The formation of the QOGC was made possible by a recent poll conducted by the Canadian-owned market research and analytics firm Leger Marketing. Results of the survey reveal:
- The creation of a license and taxation framework to control private internet gaming firms is supported by 66% of respondents.
- 71% of Quebec residents think the province cannot impose restrictions on independent internet gambling providers.
- 75% of Quebec citizens concur that social responsibility initiatives (such as problem gambling prevention) should be paid for with tax money obtained from a framework regulating the private gaming industry.
- 64% of respondents concur that these extra funds should be used to support various government initiatives.
The QOGC intends to develop as a stand-alone regulatory agency in Quebec from here. However, coalition participants must first persuade the provincial government to join before that can happen. To do this, it will explain how having an independent organization tasked with developing uniform guidelines for responsible gaming to safeguard weak and minor players will be advantageous to the government as a whole. In keeping with that, members of the QOGC will actively contribute to the Fonds de research du Québec - Société et Culture. This dedication enables the alliance to keep researching gaming habits and, as a result, the steps required to increase player safety.
A Report from 2014 Urged the Government to Licence Quebec Online Casinos
The Online Gambling Task Force advised the Quebec government to put in place a comparable regulatory framework in 2014. The task team, which was composed of academic experts in responsible and online gambling and was led by Dr. Louise Nadeau, came to this result using a licensing scheme intended for private operators. The report's suggestions, specifically, were based on international best practices. Here, private operators are able to provide secure, ethical, and responsible gambling under the regulatory oversight of the government. Despite these conclusions, the previous administration placed the report on hold. This choice allowed Ontario to establish Canada's first legalized online sports betting and casino industry.
Coalition Wants to Improve on the Ontario Online Gambling Licencing System
Between April 2022 and April 2023, the Ontario model has generated about $35.6 billion in handle and $1.6 billion in revenue, per iGaming Ontario. Therefore, it's not difficult to understand why the QOGC wants to follow along. Therefore, it is easy to comprehend why the QOGC wants to comply. This framework requires private online operators to seek a license before operating in Ontario in order to access the market. It was created in collaboration with iGaming Ontario, the Government of Ontario, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The Ontario government has also benefited greatly from such a system, bringing in more than $380 million in income in year one from the variety of private operators. The QOGC thinks the Quebec Government would make significantly more money under a similar arrangement than the one it currently uses. The coalition contends that as a result, recently obtained funds might later finance significant facets of the province's economy.
Current Legal Landscape for Canadian Online Casinos
The country's current gambling regulations state that internet gambling is prohibited unless it is authorized by the federal government or a specific province. It is therefore acceptable to play at any Canadian online casino that has a license. There are several licensed and regulated sites in Canada for players on both desktop and mobile devices. Make sure to read through our legal online casinos guide to find out more.
Espacejeux - The Provincially Owned Online Casino in Quebec
EspaceJeux is managed by Loto-Québec. This is the province's only legitimate, authorized, and controlled brand. The website, which was founded in December 2010, includes an online sportsbook and an online casino, providing table games, poker, slots, blackjack, and other types of online gambling experiences. There are also lottery games available on desktop and mobile devices. Take a look at our Espacejeux Casino review to find out more. Apart from Espacejeux, players in this province can also play at other reputable and trusted brands.
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