TLDR The Parti Québécois won Quebec’s Oct. 5 election with 59 seats, five short of a majority, after campaigning on a private iGaming market. The Liberals, now the Official Opposition with 40 seats, also backed a private online gambling model. Loto-Québec currently runs the only legal online gambling platform in the province. A study estimates 73% of Quebec online play happens in unregulated channels, costing about CAD $2.3 billion in gross gaming revenue. Industry leaders say Quebec must first create an independent regulator, and the process will not be fast.
Quebec has taken a step toward opening its online gambling market to private companies. The Parti Québécois won the provincial election on Oct. 5 after campaigning on a regulated, competitive iGaming market.
The PQ won 59 seats, five short of a majority government. The Quebec Liberal Party took 40 seats and will form the Official Opposition.
Both parties promised during the campaign to move toward a private iGaming model. Right now, Loto-Québec, a state-owned Crown corporation, runs the only legal online gambling platform in the province.
Industry Groups Respond to Quebec Election Result
The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC) represents major operators including DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Bet99, Rush Street and Apricot. Spokesperson Ariane Gauthier said the election brings new leadership with a different view on online gaming.
She noted that PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon congratulated the Liberal leader for announcing the plan first. Gauthier said the reform is “gathering a large consensus” and can be put forward by the new government.
Troy Ross, president of TRM Public Affairs, represents private iGaming operators. He said the PQ and Liberals together hold more than enough seats to pass legislation and launch a model.
During the campaign, the Liberals proposed expanding the mandate of the Régie des alcools,