Quebec Proposes Online Gambling Blacklist

Internet service providers (ISPs) operating in Canada’s province of Quebec could be asked to enforce an online gambling blacklist. A political budget was recently introduced by lawmakers, who made the request to block access to hundreds of global gambling websites currently accessible by Quebec residents.

Any legislative changes made in relation to online gambling will be applied to the Consumer Protection Act, which is overseen by the RACJ. That agency is responsible for enforcing various forms of gambling in Quebec. RACJ will be responsible for drafting the blacklist of operators if the new budget is passed.

Opposition to Proposed Gambling Ban

Media reports from the province of Ontario have quoted ISPs and legal experts who are openly opposing the blacklist. Professor Michael Geist from the University of Ottawa has described the government as “seeking to sensor the internet for its own commercial gain”. He also pointed out that the “possible illegal plan” will likely run into trouble because telecommunications legislation is controlled by the government – not individual provinces.

Another source of opposition could be tensions with the Kahnawake reserve, which acts as a regulatory jurisdiction for online gambling operators. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission and Mohawk Internet Technologies have been providing online gambling services to global operators for more than 10 years now.

For many years now, Quebec politicians have considered Kahnawake’s online gambling operations to be illegal. Kahnawake has maintained that it has a sovereign right to provide online gambling services. Tensions would rapidly escalate if a gambling blacklist were to be imposed on the Kahnawake Mohawk Nation.

Benefits for Loto-Quebec

Loto-Quebec is a government-provider of lottery games. The proposed budget for Quebec has forecast a rise of approximately CAD27 million each year. Essentially, the blacklist would drive players to Loto-Quebec because their usual providers would be inaccessible. By decreasing accessibility, consumer choice will drastically diminish.