Quebec could soon become Canada’s third province with an open online gambling market

The 2026 Quebec general election took place at the beginning of October, with voters nominating members of the National Assembly for the 44th Quebec Legislature.

The Parti Québécois emerged victorious, capturing nearly half the seats in Quebec’s National Assembly. Its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, had already backed the idea of licensing private operators during the campaign, calling the proposal “brilliant” and pledging to pursue it if elected.

The proposal to license private operators was first put forward in early September by Liberal leader Charles Milliard. His party won a third of the seats, making it Quebec’s official opposition.

What May Come Next

The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, whose members include Apricot, BET99, Betway, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter and Rush Street, said in September that nearly all of Quebec’s major political parties support bringing private operators under a regulated framework.

If the reform moves forward, Quebec would become the third Canadian province to allow licensed private operators after Ontario and Alberta. Combined, the three provinces are home to nearly three-quarters of Canada’s population.

However, there is no clear roadmap or timeline for the reform. Alberta’s experience offers some perspective: it took at least two and a half years from the first concrete discussions to the launch of its licensed market.

Takeaways for Local Players

If the rules change, Quebec players could choose from several legal gambling sites instead of being limited to one government-run operator.

More competition would give them more betting options, different bonuses and a wider choice of websites, while licensed operators would have to follow the province’s responsible gambling rules.