Quebec voters will decide on October 5 whether the province should keep Loto-Québec’s online gambling monopoly or create a regulated market for private operators.

Quebec’s online gambling model has become a major issue in the provincial election. Liberal leader Charles Milliard has proposed licensing private operators. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has endorsed the plan ahead of the October 5, 2026 vote.

The governing Coalition Avenir Québec has not supported ending Loto-Québec’s monopoly. Any change would require legislation passed by the National Assembly, followed by regulations and a licensing process.

Two opposition parties support a new model

Milliard presented his proposal on September 9. It would expand the mandate of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, known as the RACJ, to license and supervise online gambling platforms operating in Quebec.

  • Private operators would need a provincial licence.
  • Advertising and marketing would face tighter rules.
  • Operators would have to meet requirements for addiction prevention and the protection of minors.
  • A new industry-funded organization would support gambling-harm prevention.

St-Pierre Plamondon later endorsed the Liberal proposal in an interview with Radio-Canada. He said offshore activity already reaches Quebec residents. He argued that a regulated market could collect tax revenue and apply common player-protection rules.

The CAQ remains opposed to ending Loto-Québec’s monopoly, according to campaign positions reported on September 14. The issue has created a clear divide between the governing party and the two opposition parties supporting reform.

What the law allows now

Loto-Québec currently operates the only legal online gaming website in Quebec, lotoquebec.com. Its offerings include casino games, sports betting, poker, bingo and lottery products.

The RACJ already administers Quebec laws covering lotteries, amusement machines, alcohol permits and racing. It issues certain licences and monitors regulated gaming activities. Quebec has not created a licensing system for competing commercial online gambling operators.

Loto-Québec repeated its position in an August 27 statement. The corporation said lotoquebec.com remains the only fully legal casino and sports-betting website in the province under the current framework.

Revenue claims and player protection

Supporters of reform say the monopoly does not capture enough of the online gambling activity available to Quebec residents. The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition cited 2025 research estimating that Loto-Québec captured between 17% and 27% of the market.

Those figures come from industry-backed or market-research estimates. They are not a Quebec government measure.

The coalition has also claimed that a regulated commercial model could generate about C$300 million in annual tax revenue. Milliard has linked the figure to possible savings or new public funding. St-Pierre Plamondon said proceeds could support social programs.

The C$300 million figure is a political and industry estimate, not an approved fiscal forecast. A future government would still have to set tax rates, licence fees, advertising restrictions, responsible-gambling standards, data requirements and enforcement powers.

Ontario and Alberta offer different models

Quebec would not be the first Canadian province to allow private online gambling companies to operate under provincial rules.

Ontario uses the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as its regulator, alongside iGaming Ontario. The latter is the government conduct-and-manage entity that operates agreements with private operators.

Ontario’s 2026-2029 business plan reports a player channelization rate of 83.7% for 2024-25. It sets a target of 90% for 2026-27.

Alberta launched its regulated online gaming market on July 13, 2026. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulates the market, while the Alberta iGaming Corporation oversees its operation. The province also uses a centralized self-exclusion system and advertising rules intended to limit exposure among minors and vulnerable people.

These models provide possible reference points, but they do not determine Quebec law. Quebec would have to design its own system and decide how Loto-Québec would compete with, or operate alongside, private companies.

What happens after October 5

No private online gambling licence is available in Quebec under the current rules. A change would require a bill passed by the National Assembly, followed by regulations and a licensing process.

The election offers voters two competing approaches. The Liberals and Parti Québécois support a regulated commercial market. The CAQ continues to defend the existing Loto-Québec model.

The practical outcome would depend on the rules behind any new market. Those rules would determine who verifies age and identity, monitors deposits and withdrawals, enforces advertising restrictions, handles complaints, manages self-exclusion and reports suspicious transactions.