Québec Online Gaming Coalition study reveals gaming patterns

A survey on the online gaming industry in Quebec was conducted by Mainstreet Research, with authorization from the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC). The overall finding is that online gamblers are more comfortable with private operators than with the government-operated Loto-Quebec’s Espace Jeux.

QOGC was founded in May 2023 and comprises premier gaming operators such as DraftKings as well as Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel, Rush Street Interactive, and Entain.

The purpose was to move the current online gambling mechanism from allowing gambling via a lottery-operated platform to allowing commercial participants to enter the situation.

Mainstreet Research surveyed 1,000 participants and found that the community as a whole supported advancement. It also revealed that 73% of respondents preferred private players in the online gaming industry over Loto-Quebec due to the monopolistic aspect.

A total of 26.6% of users engage with the Loto-Quebec iGaming platform to participate in online casino games and sports wagering. A significant proportion of players, comprising 72%, establish connections to procure lottery tickets. This indicates that the QOGC should contemplate the closure of Loto-Quebec and the adoption of registered operators, as Ontario has authorized in April 2022.

As stated by Nathalie Bergeron, a spokesperson for the Coalition, the results demonstrate that Loto-Quebec’s purported monopoly is purely conceptual and fails to disclose the company’s actual market share. She believes that the Quebec government ought to consider the wagering habits of its citizens and implement appropriate regulatory measures to safeguard the interests of players.

In addition, the survey discussed Quebecers’ attitude toward licensed online gambling. It was evident that they prefer private players in online gambling, with 67% of respondents preferring the establishment of a registration and tax system.

In the case of 56% of respondents, they strongly favor establishing an independent regulating organization to manage the online gambling market alongside Loto-Quebec. The body will be in charge of ensuring that online gaming safety measures are executed correctly.

Following the survey, QOGC had discussions with the Quebec Finance Ministry. According to Bergeron, they are finally heading in the right direction and will develop the necessary solution to create a proper online gaming space.