A recent study by an industry trade group found that most Quebeckers wager on sports and casino games online through commercial operators rather than the province’s lottery.
Mainstreet Research recently surveyed 1,010 residents for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition. The polling firm found that 72% only use Loto-Quebec’s online platform to purchase lottery tickets. After factoring out those individuals, the study found that just 26.6% of the lottery’s players use its online site to bet on sports and play casino games.
In addition, more than two-thirds of those polled said they want Quebec to license and regulate private Quebec online gaming operators to generate tax revenue for Canada’s second most populous province. The 67% support for that nearly matches the amount of support the coalition reported from a survey of general residents more than six months ago.
"The Québec government must consider the habits and preferences of Quebecers who play online games and establish a proper regulatory regime to protect the majority of Quebecers who play on privately operated platforms for online casino games and sports betting and not on the Crown Corporation’s platform," coalition spokesperson Nathalie Bergeron said.
Beyond the support for regulating private Quebec online gaming operators, a majority of those polled in the most recent survey, 56%, said provincial leaders should form an independent agency to oversee all gaming in the province, including Loto-Quebec.
Loto-Quebec did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Betway casino Quebec, Bet99, DraftKings, Flutter Entertainment, Entain, Rush Street Interactive and Apricot established the coalition in May. The operators want Quebec to establish a regulatory structure for online sports betting and casino gaming. Doing so, the group believes, will promote responsible gaming practices and protect consumers.
A similar framework exists in neighboring Ontario, where that province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission regulates online gaming. Last year, the province opened the door for private operators to offer sports betting, iGaming and poker.
According to iGaming Ontario, an AGCO subsidiary, there were 71 registered online sports betting, casino and poker sites managed by 47 operators through the end of September. There were more than 940,000 active accounts through those sites.
During the second quarter of the 2023-24 fiscal year, which ended in September, the authorized sites reported a handle of $14.2 billion and revenues of $540 million. Both totals were more than double the amounts reported for the second quarter during the previous year. That meant the average account holder wagered more than $190 during the quarter.
Online casino gaming accounted for most activity in Ontario, with $11.9 billion of the wagering and $407 million in revenue. At $1.9 billion, online sports betting accounted for just 13% of the handle. However, it generated 22% of the revenue, as sportsbooks claimed $118 million.
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Auteur
Steve est un journaliste accompli et récompensé, avec plus de vingt ans d'expérience dans la couverture des jeux vidéo, des sports, de la politique et du monde des affaires. Il a écrit pour l'Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square et de nombreuses autres publications. Il est basé à Louisville, dans le Kentucky.
