Quebec PQ Minority Government Victory Advances Private iGaming Regulation

Quebec’s provincial election delivered a minority government for the Parti Québécois on a platform that includes regulating private iGaming operators under a competitive model similar to Ontario’s. The PQ secured 59 seats, five short of a majority, while the Quebec Liberal Party took 40 seats and will form the official opposition. Both leading parties committed during the campaign to ending Loto-Québec’s monopoly as the province’s sole legal online gaming platform.

The outcome marks a policy change for a market where unregulated operators currently dominate activity. The Liberals proposed expanding the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) to license all online platforms while enforcing rules on advertising, addiction prevention, and consumer protection. The PQ indicated it would adopt a comparable regulatory approach.

Industry Consensus and Regulatory Details

Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), said the election brings new leadership with a different perspective on online gaming. Gauthier noted that Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the PQ leader and premier-designate, congratulated the Liberal leader for first announcing the policy. “We think this is reform that’s gathering a large consensus that could be successfully put forward by the new Quebec government,” Gauthier said. The QOGC has operated for three years on behalf of operators including DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Bet99, Rush Street, and Apricot.

Troy Ross, president of TRM Public Affairs, described the dual-party support as encouraging. “This represents a remarkable shift in government policy in Quebec,” Ross said. The coalition has built the case for regulation, and industry looks forward to working on market details.

Amanda Brewer, senior vice president, policy and communications, Canadian Gaming Association, cautioned against expecting rapid change. Brewer pointed out that Loto-Québec is not regulated by the RACJ, so the province must establish a regulator and likely a conduct and manage entity. “I wouldn’t use ‘fast’ to describe anything that may happen in Quebec,” Brewer said. Specific rules and the independent regulator require stakeholder collaboration, according to Casino.org News.

Market Data and Ontario Comparison

A private-sector study this summer set Quebec’s total addressable iGaming market for 2026 at CAD $3.09 billion. Current channelization stands at 27 percent regulated, leaving 73 percent in the unregulated market and an estimated $2.3 billion in lost gross gaming revenue. A 2023 Mainstreet Research Study found 73 percent of surveyed Quebec players used privately operated platforms, while 72 percent of Loto-Québec users employed its platform exclusively for lottery tickets.

Ontario’s private iGaming market launched in April 2022 and now includes 49 licensed operators across 84 websites. It generated CAD $4.04 billion in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue in 2025. Alberta’s market went live in July with 36 live websites.

Reporting: Casino.org News

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.