Quebec is in the middle of a change. Today, Loto-Québec is the only operator licensed to run online casino games and sports betting in the province, through its site at lotoquebec.com. But on October 5, 2026, Quebec elected a Parti Québécois government that campaigned on licensing private online casinos, and the Liberal opposition backs the same idea. For the first time, Quebec looks likely to follow Ontario and Alberta, though no bill has been tabled yet.
Meanwhile, most online casino play in Quebec already happens somewhere else. Industry-commissioned research puts the share of play at unregulated sites at around 73%, and some of the best-known licences used by those sites are issued from inside Quebec itself, in Kahnawà:ke. This guide explains what is legal right now, how Loto-Québec compares with the offshore casinos Quebecers use, which offshore sites we have verified, and what the election could mean for you.
Quick answer: Loto-Québec is the only licensed online casino in Quebec, and the minimum age is 18. Offshore casinos accept Quebec players and individuals are not prosecuted for using them, but they are not regulated by Quebec. If you play offshore, choose a site with a licence you can check, such as Casino Days or Jackpot City. The new government supports opening a regulated private market, but nothing changes until a law is passed.
Online Gambling in Quebec at a Glance
| Item | Quebec |
|---|---|
| Licensed online casino | Loto-Québec only (lotoquebec.com) |
| Online sports betting | Mise-o-jeu, also run by Loto-Québec |
| Private operator licences | None yet. The new government backs creating them |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Offshore casinos | Accept Quebec players but are not regulated in Quebec |
| Share of play at unregulated sites | About 73%, by an industry-cited estimate |
| Tax on winnings | None for recreational players |
| Free 24/7 help | Jeu : aide et référence, 1-800-461-0140 |
Loto-Québec: The Only Licensed Option
Loto-Québec launched its online casino as Espacejeux in December 2010. The Espacejeux name has since been folded into the main Loto-Québec site, and espacejeux.com now redirects there, so if an older guide sends you to “Espacejeux”, it means the same platform. Sports betting runs separately under the Mise-o-jeu brand.
As a Crown corporation, Loto-Québec gives you the strongest protection available in the province. Your funds and your complaints sit with a Quebec government body, the games are certified, and the platform is fully bilingual. Its responsible gambling tools are built into the account, which is a real advantage if you want hard limits that you cannot easily switch off.
The weakness is the same one PlayNow has in British Columbia: a single provincial site cannot match the libraries, live dealer depth or promotions of the large private casinos. That is why so much Quebec play goes offshore, and why the industry has lobbied hard for a regulated market.
| Loto-Québec strengths | Loto-Québec weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Only Quebec-licensed online casino | Smaller game library than large offshore sites |
| Quebec government body handles your account and complaints | Modest promotions |
| Fully bilingual, French first | No competing licensed brands to choose between |
| Strong built-in limits and support | Fewer niche games and providers |
Offshore Casinos We Recommend for Quebec Players
If you decide to play beyond Loto-Québec, these are the offshore casinos we rate highest for players outside Ontario and Alberta. Each licence has been checked against the regulator’s own records, not just copied from the site footer.
100% up to C$1,000
+ 100 Free Spins
100% up to C$1,000
+ 200 Free Spins
+ 100 Free Spins
100% Welcome bonus up to C$750
140 Free Spins
First deposit will be matched up to $400
Following two are matched up to $300 each
Welcome deposit bonus up to $1600
50 Free Spins
100% up to C$500
+ 500 Free Spins
200% deposit match
with promo code
100% up to C$500
+ 50 Free Spins
Our picks by what you want
- Best all-round: Casino Days, licensed by Kahnawake for the rest of Canada and provincially in Ontario and Alberta, with a large library and fast Interac payouts.
- Best long-running brand: Jackpot City and its sister sites Spin Casino and Royal Vegas, all Kahnawake-licensed outside the regulated provinces.
- Best for bonus terms: PlayOJO, MGA-licensed, whose welcome free spins carry no wagering requirement.
- Best French-language experience: Mega Casino, an MGA-licensed site with a full French Canadian version.
Every site we have tested appears in our ranking of real money casinos for Canadian players.
Is It Legal to Play at Offshore Casinos in Quebec?
Offshore casinos are not authorized by Quebec, but Quebec law does not make it an offence for an individual to play at one, and players are not prosecuted. The province has tried to push offshore sites out before. In 2016 it passed Bill 74, which would have forced internet providers to block unlicensed gambling sites. The telecom industry challenged it, and in 2018 the Superior Court of Québec struck it down as outside provincial powers, because blocking websites is a federal telecommunications matter. It was never enforced.
So the risk you take offshore is about protection, not prosecution. An offshore casino answers to its own regulator. If it holds a withdrawal or voids winnings, Loto-Québec and Quebec’s authorities cannot help, and you would have to use the foreign regulator’s complaint process. The process for resolving disputes with online casinos explains how to do that, and our comparison of provincially run and offshore casinos sets out the full trade-off.
The Kahnawake factor
One detail is unique to Quebec. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which licenses many of the longest-running Canadian-facing casinos, is based in Kahnawà:ke, a Mohawk territory just south of Montreal. It has issued online gaming permits since the late 1990s under its own authority, not under a provincial licence. For players, the practical point is simple: a Kahnawake permit is one of the more established licences in the offshore market, and the Commission publishes a list of the domains it approves, so you can check a specific site. It is still not a Quebec licence.
The 2026 Election and Private Online Casinos
For years Quebec defended Loto-Québec’s monopoly. That position has shifted quickly. During the 2026 campaign, Liberal leader Charles Milliard proposed licensing and regulating private online gambling platforms, with strict rules on advertising, addiction prevention and the protection of minors. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he would adopt the proposal, pointing to Ontario’s experience and describing Quebec’s current online betting scene as “like the Wild West”.
The Parti Québécois won the October 5 election, leading in 59 ridings, short of a majority, with the Liberals as the official opposition. With both of the largest parties behind a regulated market, the political case is stronger than it has ever been. What has not happened yet is the law. Opening a private market would need new legislation and a regulator with the powers to license operators, and the Liberals proposed giving that job to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux. No bill had been tabled as of mid-October 2026, and no timeline has been given.
If it follows Ontario and Alberta, Quebec would become the third province with licensed private casinos. Those markets give a fair idea of what to expect: a register of approved brands, separate Quebec versions of familiar sites, stricter advertising rules, and offshore sites given a deadline to leave. We will update this page as soon as there is a bill to read.
Playing in French
Loto-Québec is French first, and that remains one of its genuine advantages. Among offshore sites, French support varies a lot. Some offer a complete French Canadian version, with translated terms and French-speaking support. Others translate the lobby and leave the bonus terms in English, which is exactly where you need to understand every word.
Of the casinos we review, Mega Casino has a full French Canadian site, and others such as Barz and SpinsBro run separate fr-CA versions. Before depositing, check three things in French: the bonus terms, the withdrawal rules and the support channel. If any of those is English only, you are relying on a translation when a dispute comes up.
A Checklist for Quebec Players Choosing an Offshore Casino
Until Quebec licenses private operators, choosing an offshore site is your own due diligence. These are the checks that catch most problems, in the order we run them ourselves.
- Licence and company. Find the regulator, licence number and operating company in the footer, then confirm them on the regulator’s own register or validator. Seal images can be copied, registers cannot.
- Terms in French, or at least in full. If you play in French, check that the bonus terms and general terms are fully translated, not just the lobby.
- Withdrawal limits. Look for daily, weekly and monthly caps and the minimum withdrawal. Some offshore sites cap standard accounts at a few thousand dollars a week.
- Wagering basis. Find out whether the wagering applies to the bonus alone or to the deposit plus the bonus, because the second can double what you have to play through.
- Account currency. Choose a CAD account to avoid conversion losses.
- A small test withdrawal. Request a small payout early. A casino that handles it promptly is a much safer bet with a larger balance. Typical timings are in our ranking of the fastest payout casinos in Canada.
For the security side of signing up, see our advice on protecting your personal and financial information, and for how game fairness is tested, our explainer on whether online casinos are rigged.
Loto-Québec vs Offshore Casinos: Side by Side
| Factor | Loto-Québec | Verified offshore casino |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed in Quebec | Yes | No |
| Who handles complaints | A Quebec Crown corporation | The foreign regulator |
| Game library | Smaller | Often several thousand games |
| Welcome bonus | Modest | Usually large, with wagering requirements |
| French language | Native | Varies by site |
| Minimum age | 18 | Set by each site |
| Payments | Canadian bank methods | Interac plus e-wallets and vouchers |
Bonuses and Payments for Quebec Players
Offshore welcome offers are large, and the terms behind them decide whether they are worth anything. Watch what the wagering applies to: thirty-five times the bonus is a much smaller job than thirty-five times the deposit plus the bonus. Check the maximum bet while a bonus is active, the time limit, and any cap on bonus winnings. Each term is explained in our breakdown of welcome bonus wagering and terms, and no deposit bonuses cover offers you can try without paying in.
For payments, Interac is the standard at almost every casino that accepts Quebecers, with instant deposits and fast withdrawals at the better sites. iDebit is a good bank-linked alternative, and Paysafecard lets you deposit without sharing bank details, though you will need another method to withdraw. If you only want to start small, our comparison of low minimum deposit casinos shows what each deposit level really gets you. Every option is compared in our overview of casino deposit and withdrawal methods.
Land-Based Casinos in Quebec
Loto-Québec also runs the province’s land-based casinos, including the Casino de Montréal, one of the largest in Canada, the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, the Casino de Charlevoix and the Casino de Mont-Tremblant, along with smaller gaming halls. They follow the same age rule as the online site: 18 and over.
Do You Pay Tax on Casino Winnings in Quebec?
No, not as a recreational player. Casual gambling winnings are treated as windfalls in Canada, at both the federal and the Quebec level, whether they come from Loto-Québec, an offshore site or a land-based casino. The rare exception is someone the tax authorities treat as gambling as a business. That test is covered in our explainer on tax on casino winnings in Canada.
Responsible Gambling Help in Quebec
- Jeu : aide et référence: free, confidential and bilingual information, support and referral, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-461-0140 (514-527-0140 in the Montreal area), or online at aidejeu.ca.
- Loto-Québec’s own tools: limits and self-exclusion are built into the Loto-Québec account and cover its online platform.
- Offshore sites: each casino has its own limits and exclusion, which apply to that site only. If you play at more than one, set limits at each.
Whatever you choose, set a deposit limit when you open the account. It takes seconds and is much harder to do after a losing session.
Reviewed by Liam Lambert, OCCG casino reviewer. The licences of the offshore casinos recommended on this page were checked against their regulators’ records, and the election and legislative details were checked against news reports from October 2026. We will update this page when a bill is tabled. Our review methodology explains how we rate each site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online casinos legal in Quebec?
Loto-Québec is the only online casino licensed in Quebec. Offshore casinos accept Quebec players but are not authorized or regulated by the province. Individual players are not prosecuted for usi