Overview of Gambling in Québec, Canada

As with all provinces, the Québec government has significant autonomy over gambling in Québec, providing that they do not contradict the Canadian Criminal Code. Section 204 of the Code makes pari-mutuel horse racing an exception. This is because it is regulated at the federal level.

The provincial government's Crown corporation Loto Québec is responsible for operating lotteries, video lottery terminals, bingo, land-based casinos, gaming halls, kinzo and online gambling. It was founded in 1969 and headquartered in Montréal, Québec. This was the same year that the Société des loteries du Québec Act was passed to legalize games of chance.

Québec gambling laws state that the minimum age in Québec to participate in gambling is 18 and over. In all cases, participants must be resident and physically present in Québec to qualify.

The Québec Lottery began in March 1970 and includes instant games such as scratch tickets. These come in different themes (and prize values) such as Scrabble, Mots Cachés, Jeu de Mots, Wheel of Fortune and 7 Chanceux.

Lottery draws such as the interprovincial Lotto 649 and Lotto Max are the Québec Lottery's biggest revenue generators. Tickets cost between $3 and $5, with draws held biweekly. Prizes typically exceed $1 million and occasionally reach much higher sums, including $50 million or more. Québeckers also have a sports betting option online at Loto Québec's Mise-o-jeu. Alternatively, Québeckers can play at an authorized retailer by filling a selection slip or generating a barcode from your mobile app.

The Crown corporation set up Espacejeux in December 2010. Here, Quebeckers can find live casino games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, game shows and poker. The selection is limited compared to many offshore online casinos, explaining why many Québeckers have flocked to them. In 2016, the Québec Superior Court rejected an attempt by the Québec government to prohibit unauthorized online casino Québec sites.

There is also video poker, slots including progressive jackpots, table games and keno. Players can also find virtual sports such as horse racing, car racing, dog racing, motocross racing and cycling races. These games all have random number generators (RNGs) that determine the outcome of rounds.

The Société des casinos du Québec is one of the subsidiaries of Loto Québec and responsible for operating the four Québec casinos. Three of these are located close to the St Lawrence River, while the fourth is about 1hr 45 minutes north of Montreal. The subsidiary is also responsible for hotel & restaurant services. There are no First Nations casinos in Québec. However, the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake near Montreal has three poker rooms: The Four Aces Poker, The Office Poker Club and Snakes Poker Club. These operations are regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Another subsidiary of Loto Québec is The Société des établissements de jeux du Québec. It is tasked with operating 12,000+ video lottery terminals. Also known as video poker machines, devices can be found in two gaming halls, bars and brasseries in Trois-Rivières & Québec City. The subsidiary also operates a kinzo hall and a bingo network, with the profits going towards licensed non-profit organizations. Wagers are limited to $2.50, and prizes cannot exceed $1,000.