Quebec Online Gaming Coalition Presses for Regulatory Clarity After Study Shows Tripled Online Participation in Montreal

A Nov. 5 study by the Montreal Regional Public Health Department and Concordia University has revealed a sharp rise in online gambling in the city, prompting the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition to call for concrete regulatory steps in the provincial government's upcoming fall economic update.

The survey of 8,500 adults found online gambling participation reached 13.3% in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2018. Overall gambling participation declined from 54.5% to 39% in the same timeframe. Among online gamblers, 38% used only unregulated platforms and another 16% used both unregulated sites and the government-owned Loto-Québec.

Ariane Gauthier, spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, said regulating this activity is "particularly complex and partially beyond the control of Quebec’s public authorities" because of the volume of offshore platforms. She noted associated issues of capital flight, intrusive marketing, fraud, and harm to player safety and health, as first reported by Casino.org News.

Young men aged 18 to 34 showed higher vulnerability, with 7.4% exhibiting problematic gambling behaviors compared with 4.6% overall. The study also found 73% of Montreal adults support banning online gambling advertising, while 70% consider gambling too accessible.

Coalition Urges Framework Covering All Operators

The newly elected Parti Québécois minority government has signaled plans for an Ontario-style regulated iGaming market. The opposition Liberal Party supports opening the sector to private operators. Gauthier called on Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau to announce measures in the budget update that would establish rules applying to both Loto-Québec and private companies, giving authorities proper leverage.

Where the Risk Lies

The persistence of unregulated platforms amid rising participation underscores limits on provincial control and heightened exposure for younger players. Any regulatory design must weigh strong public sentiment for advertising curbs against the goal of channeling activity into licensed channels. The coming weeks will show whether the government converts its stated commitment into a framework that addresses these specific pressures.