Call for Regulation of Online Gambling in Quebec

The study, published on November 5 by the Montreal Regional Public Health Department and Concordia University, showed that online gambling is becoming increasingly popular in the city. The same study also found that participation in traditional forms of gambling has declined.

According to a survey of 8,500 adults, the share of people who gambled online in 2025 was 13.3 percent. In 2018, this figure was 4.4 percent. Of those who gamble online, 38 percent play only on unregulated sites, while 16 percent play both on these sites and on the state-owned Loto-Québec platform. Because Loto-Québec is the province's only regulated platform, oversight of this sector is becoming difficult.

According to the study, men aged 18 to 34 appear to be particularly at risk. Problematic gambling behavior was identified in 7.4 percent of this group. The rate among all gamblers is 4.6 percent.

On the political front, the newly elected Parti Québécois minority government had previously said it wants to establish a regulated online betting market similar to Ontario's. The opposition Liberal Party also advocates a market model that opens the door to private operators. The coalition is waiting for Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau to announce concrete steps to regulate the sector in the upcoming budget update. The government has not yet announced a date for the full budget. The study also showed that there are widespread concerns about advertising and access to gambling.