Quebec May Issue Private Gaming Licenses
A working group in Quebec has been looking into and monitoring Loto-Quebec's online gaming offering since 2010, and has come up with some interesting findings. Based on these findings, Quebec may issue private gaming licenses in the near future.
Loto-Quebec's Espacejeux Gaming
Quebec had made the decision that there would be one legalised online gaming site, Espacejeux, which would be run by Loto-Quebec. It had been hoped that the site would keep Quebec residents away from unlicensed gaming offerings, and that it would help create additional revenue to fund responsible gambling initiatives. There had been some fears that the legalised online gaming site would increase problem gambling.
To begin with, the Espacejeux site did not increase gambling problems, but on the other hand, it also has not realised the predicted positive outcomes that were expected of the site. The Loto-Quebec gaming site has not brought in the projected income that was expected, and therefore the additional initiatives have not yet taken place.
Quebec Online Gaming Working Group's Recommendations
Since the hoped for outcome has not materialised, the working group that has been looking into online gaming in Quebec has come up with a number of suggestions for the future of online gaming in the province.
Up until now, Loto-Quebec has been responsible for both online gaming in Quebec, and also for overseeing the legal, and socio-economic aspects of gambling. It has been suggested that an independent body take over these other aspects of gambling in Quebec. It is felt that there is a conflict of interests when a gaming operator should deal with both the health and socio-economic aspects of gaming, along with the task of growing the gaming operation. In addition to this, it has been recommended that either an independent regulator should be set up for online gambling, or that the online gambling in Quebec should be overseen by the already existing land-based gaming regulator.
The working group has also suggested that Quebec ask that Canada's criminal code be amended in order to allow provinces to issue their own licenses to private gaming operations. While this change would take some time, and would need the support of other provinces, the working group has suggested that Loto-Quebec should form a working relationship with various private gaming operators so that popular games can be offered via the Espacejeux site.
The statement released by the working group noted: "In light of the facts and in the wake of several consultations, the Working Group believes that in order to control the online gambling market, protect consumers and generate revenues for the government, the best solution for the government is to establish clear rules and open up the online gambling market to private operator. In fact, the best solution is to establish an online gambling licensing system."
