Read all about it – Quebec online gambling licensing is on the card to follow in the footsteps of Ontario. But what are the pros and cons? (Pavel Danilyuk pexels.com)
It is a major talking point in Canadian iGaming, and it surrounds the possibility of a Quebec online gambling licensing authority similar to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission Ontario.
If you have read our guide to the best live casino in Canada, then you will already have some understanding of how licensing works in the country. And I get the feeling there are some gambling entertainment companies that may not be happy about this move.
The push for a provincial licensing regime that replicates Ontario is being spearheaded by a group that has named itself the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC). Big-name iGaming and sports betting brands such as Flutter Entertainment Betway, Draftkings, Entain, Flutter, Bet99, Games Global, and Rush Street Interactive make up the coalition, joining forces with Apricot Investments to steer the QOGC’s efforts in what is effectively a lobbying campaign.
However, some operators and software providers may see this as just another expensive hurdle to jump. Therefore, whether companies like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Authentic Gaming, BetGames and the army of other live casino developers, iGaming and sports betting firms out there are going to want to fork out more money to keep yet another licensing authority happy remains to be seen.
Judging by the number of iGaming licensing certificates these game developers already have, my guess is the iGaming brand names I mentioned probably won’t mind. However, what I don’t like about the QOGC is it seems like a bullying tactic to push out the little guy. And when I say the little guy, I mean smaller firms already serving Quebec under the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), and Curacao Interactive Gaming licenses.
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A Unified Front for a New Quebec Regulatory Landscape
In an industry-first, Flutter is taking the lead to kickstart the QOGC, promising a proactive partnership with the Quebec government and local stakeholders. The end goal is to forge a fresh regulatory framework catering to the online gaming industry.
Currently, Loto-Québec’s Mise-o-jeu online sportsbook holds a monopoly on Quebec’s legal sports betting market, which is at the forefront of the QOGC’s push, but we all know that’s not the only reason. Quebec is the largest province in Canada and has the second biggest population with 8.7 million people.
A Game Changer for the Canadian Market: Should the provincial government be open to broadening the scope of iGaming and welcoming private firms into the arena, the government and licensed firms will open up a sizable opportunity for growth and profit.
Strengthening Consumer Protection and Safeguarding Revenue
Although I have shed a negative light on the QOGC thus far, there are also some positives to a provincial iGaming and sports betting market in the region. Canadian citizens will have the opportunity to play at local Canadian online casinos operating under local laws.
Another point the QOGC underscores is the need for responsible gambling tools added to casinos as well as advertising to prevent problem gambling. Flutter highlighted the necessity for a strict licensing process for suitable private operators, envisaging a standardized system of control over responsible gaming to safeguard vulnerable and underage players.
I would say this is a moot point because the MGA licensing authority, already requires all platforms to offer players tools so they can control their gambling. This includes deposit limits, stake limits, and loss limits. Plus, they offer reality checks as well as self-exclusion and cooling-off periods so players can take a break from real money gambling.
On the flip side there is a benefit to Quebec Online Gambling Licensing: Should the QOGC be successful in its mission, then it would help educate Canadian casino players and sports betting participants educate themselves on how to gamble responsibly via advertising campaigns.
Learning from Ontario’s Success Story
It is clear that the QOGC has found success in the Ontario gambling market launch, and the formation of the alliance practically confirms this point. Also, a survey by a company named Leger Marketing said that 66% of respondents are all for the introduction of private gambling companies to the province as it would bring in tax income as well as a local framework.
More stats from the survey: Additionally, the survey reveals that 71% of Quebecers feel that the government should not block private companies in the first place. I would say the small disparity between the 66% and 71% is in regard to whether they should operate under provincial licensing.
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