2025 Marks a Breakout Year for Legal Sports Betting in Quebec

Loto-Québec reports record profits from legal sports betting, but nearly three-quarters of Quebec’s online wagers still flow offshore. As the province weighs its regulatory future, hundreds of millions in revenue, as well as player protection, hang in the balance.

For Quebec sports fans, 2025 should feel like a winning streak. Four years after Ottawa legalized single-game betting, Loto-Québec is posting its strongest numbers ever. Profits soar, their platform is slicker, and the Montreal Canadiens are always on the board. But look beyond the crown corporation’s impressive results, and a different story emerges. The vast majority of online bets placed by Quebecers aren’t happening on the legal, provincially-run site. They’re flowing to unregulated offshore operators, leaving massive revenue and critical player safeguards on the table. The difference between Loto-Québec’s success and the wild grey market really highlights a key moment for Quebec in the rising wave of sports betting.

The Monopoly’s Strong Hand

Quebec chose a unique path: a single, government-run operator. Loto-Québec, through its Mise-o-jeu and upgraded Mise-o-jeu+ platforms, is the only fully legal, in-province online betting option. And they’ve delivered results. Miseojeu+ now offers the essentials: single-game betting, sharp odds, and modern features like “Same Game Combos” (parlays within one event) and “early cashout.” It’s a full-service hub – sports betting alongside thousands of casino games, lottery, poker, and bingo, all stressing security. They cover major leagues (NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, CFL) and global sports. Aggressive promotions, like a $20 bet credit for new users, help draw players in.

The payoff? Fiscal 2024-2025 saw Loto-Québec pull in nearly $3 billion in total revenue, netting over $1.5 billion. Winners collected $1.8 billion, including 131 prizes topping $1 million. The sector encompassing sports betting (“Gaming establishments”) contributed $852.7 million. Money flows back: $455 million spent with Quebec businesses, $444 million in payroll, $330 million in commissions, and $36 million for problem gambling prevention. Within its mandate, Loto-Québec is undeniably winning.

The Billion-Dollar Blind Spot

Yet, a massive chunk of the action happens elsewhere. Canadian law doesn’t stop Quebecers from using internationally licensed offshore sites. This grey market isn’t small; it dominates. Data shows Loto-Québec captures only about 27% of Quebec’s online gambling activity. That means roughly 73% of the money wagered online by Quebecers – potentially hundreds of millions annually – goes to operators outside provincial control and taxation.

Think about the convenience. Betting happens anywhere – at home, a bar, or even while waiting for a private flight at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. Offshore sites offer that same ease, often with more features or bonuses. The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition states bluntly: the province is “leaving hundreds of millions in revenue on the table.” Look at Ontario. Since launching its competitive market in April 2022, iGaming Ontario generated nearly $230 million in government revenue in one year. It added almost $1.6 billion to Ontario’s GDP and created over 12,000 jobs. Loto-Québec’s success is real, but Quebec’s overall economic benefit from its citizens’ betting is stunted.

Tech, Experience, and Keeping Pace

Today’s bettor demands a top-tier digital experience: slick mobile apps, in-play betting, cash-out options, and diverse markets. Loto-Quebec is all about keeping up with the times – and in today’s fast-paced world, that means a lot. They are looking at AI-driven odds, using blockchain for security, and esports betting. It helps to be relevant. In addition, Montreal is a tech innovation hotbed with names like Google Brain, DeepMind, FAIR and Mila – so you can ride this wave of new ideas and opportunities.

These platforms often debut cutting-edge features first. Aggressive promotional tactics, including substantial bonus codes, are another common tool used offshore to attract and retain users. Take the widely advertised ‘ODDSMAX’ offer, providing up to $3,000, found on this page, with the goal of getting players to switch. When the only legal option in Quebec lags, player migration slows down. Real growth depends just as much on experience and perceived value as it does on legality. Innovations and competitive offers need market pressure, which the current model lacks.

But can a single government operator match the agility of numerous private, global offshore sites fighting for players? These platforms often debut cutting-edge features first. If Quebec’s only legal option consistently lags behind the experience available offshore, player migration stalls. True growth hinges as much on experience as legality. Innovation thrives on competition – something the current model lacks.

Protecting Players: A Partial Shield

Loto-Québec rightly highlights its responsible gambling commitment. The “Wise Play” program is robust, backed by serious funding: $22 million annually to health since 1999, plus $36 million directly for prevention last year. Players get tools: deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, tutorials, support. They hold the World Lottery Association’s top Level 4 Certification for player protection. This focus is a major advantage over the unregulated space.

But there’s a pretty big problem: these strong protections only cover the 27% betting with Loto-Québec. What about the 73% using offshore sites? Oversight and tools there vary wildly. Some are solid; many aren’t. This is a critical safety gap. While Loto-Québec builds a fortress for its players, most Quebec bettors are outside the walls. Capturing the grey market isn’t just about cash; it’s about ensuring every Quebec player has consistent, high-standard safeguards.

The High-Stakes Decision Ahead

The debate intensifies. The next provincial election (due by October 2026) is seen as crucial. The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition pushes hard for an open, regulated market like Ontario’s, calling it inevitable. Their argument rests on two pillars: recapturing massive lost revenue and closing the player protection gap. Loto-Québec’s corporate vision mentions a “diversified, evolving and connected experience” via stakeholder collaboration, leaving room for interpretation. With the global sports betting market projected to hit US$198.53 billion by 2030, Quebec faces a choice: fully harness this growth or watch most of its citizens’ betting dollars benefit other jurisdictions.

Loto-Québec’s 2025 performance is impressive. Profits are up, the platform is better. But calling it a complete “breakout year” for Quebec sports betting misses the mark. The dominant grey market drains potential provincial revenue and exposes most players to inconsistent protection. Montreal’s tech leadership shows Quebec can innovate. Will the province apply that spirit to betting regulation, embracing a model proven to capture market share, boost the economy, and protect all players? Or settle for a profitable monopoly while the bigger jackpot slips away? The real breakout moment depends on the next move.