Quebec Online Gaming Coalition Seeks to Emulate Ontario's Regulatory Model

The QOGC aims to tackle consumer safety, responsible gaming, advertising, and significantly enhance government revenues through a new licensing system for eligible private operators. The Coalition's founding members include Apricot Investments, Betway, Bet99, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter, Games Global, and RushStreet.

The initiative comes after a Leger Marketing survey reported that 66% of respondents favour the regulation of private online gaming operators by setting up a licensing and tax system. Moreover, 75% of participants agreed that the tax revenues from a regulatory framework for private online gaming sites should be used to fund social responsibility programs such as addiction prevention.

The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition is drawing inspiration from its neighbouring province, Ontario. The latter has seen significant success after introducing a regulated market in April 2022, developed jointly by iGaming Ontario (iGO) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Under this model, private online gaming operators are required to obtain a license before operating in Ontario. An Ipsos survey revealed that the number of people gambling on regulated sites in Ontario has seen a significant increase since the start of 2022. Ontario has now become one of the top five gaming jurisdictions in North America.

With Ontario leading the charge in Canada's online gaming industry, Quebec is keen on following suit. The QOGC has called for an independent regulatory body in Quebec, hoping to replicate Ontario's success in the market. The Coalition's members are also committed to contributing to the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et Culture to further study gaming behaviours and devise methods to ensure a safe and responsible gaming experience for Quebec residents.

The Coalition contends that the implementation of regulation would allow the Québec government to generate additional revenues beyond the current system, and these new funds should be reinvested in key sectors of the Québec economy.

In summary, the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition's initiative towards developing a new regulatory framework indicates a shift towards a more controlled and responsible gaming environment. Emulating Ontario's model could prove beneficial, providing a safer gaming landscape and a promising source of revenue for the government.