New Brunswick Plans to Legalize Live Casino Games

Several provinces in Canada are considering expanding their online gaming offerings following the success of Ontario's regulated online gaming market and the recent launch in Alberta. In New Brunswick, online gambling is currently offered under a monopoly model. Lawmakers have introduced a bill to add live casino to this structure.

The government has stated that the bill will not open a new commercial iGaming market and will only expand the product range of Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The bill would amend the Gaming Control Act to allow the provincial government to regulate live casino games specifically. If the law passes, a regulatory body will be created to oversee online live casino activities. Live casinos are defined as online table games in which players play in real time with other players and human dealers.

The bill was prepared at the recommendation of ALC. Officials argued that security measures would be preserved through regulations. Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said that updating the legislation is essential for the safety of local players. Gauvin noted that attracting more people to the legal market would direct those who currently gamble unlicensed toward a safer, legal market and improve channelization rates. Minister of Finance and Treasury Board René Legacy added that the changes would allow the government to respond safely to player demand.

The report notes that some officials are also considering a commercial iGaming option, hoping to replicate Ontario's success. According to reports, only 35 percent of betting volume in New Brunswick currently takes place through ALC. Experts put Ontario's iGaming channelization rate above 90 percent. Although the iGaming launch in Alberta appears to have boosted demand for regulated iGaming, New Brunswick has not yet taken that step.