Rising Trend of Youth Gambling Reveals Shortcomings in Quebec's Single-Provider Gambling System
Quebec is grappling with a surge in underage online gambling, fueled by social media advertisements and illegal gambling sites that enable minors to bypass age restrictions [1][5]. This alarming trend has led some teenagers, as young as 12, to incur significant gambling losses in a matter of weeks [2].
At the heart of the issue is the province's regulated online gambling market, managed by Loto-Québec through its Espacejeux platform. The platform enforces a legal gambling age of 18. However, the allure of social media stars promoting gambling in disguised forms, combined with the ease of access to illegal gambling websites, undermines these safeguards [1][3].
Key issues highlighted include the luring of teens by social media stars promoting gambling, illegal gambling websites allowing underage users to register and gamble using fake or relative IDs, and the addictive nature of some sites exacerbated by manipulative features like withdrawal delays [1].
Proposed solutions include stronger regulation of social media gambling advertisements to limit youth exposure, enhanced enforcement against illegal gambling sites, improved player identification controls and verification processes, greater education and prevention programs in schools, and collaboration between regulators, social media companies, and law enforcement to develop tools to detect and remove harmful gambling advertising content aimed at minors [1].
More robust mechanisms within licensed operators to monitor risky betting behaviour and intervene promptly are also being emphasized, similar to policies enforced by other jurisdictions to reduce harm [4].
The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, a group started in 2023 and backed by major private operators, advocates for a regulated competitive system like Ontario's, which they believe could potentially address underage gambling and the growth of unregulated betting sites [6].
Quebec's losses to unregulated sites are reportedly the highest in Canada, with an estimated annual loss of CAD 1.97 billion ($1.4 billion) [3]. This issue has been brought to light at events such as the Canadian Gaming Summit, where industry numbers were revealed [3].
In conclusion, Quebec is aware of the problem, which primarily stems from social media-driven exposure and illegal gambling operators exploiting weak safeguards. Addressing this involves tightening advertisement controls on social media, cracking down on illegal sites, enhancing age verification, and promoting education and early intervention programs. However, as of August 2025, these solutions are mostly proposed and under discussion rather than fully implemented [1][5].
References:
[1] CBC News. (2023, March 15). Quebec Online Gaming Coalition calls for new system to address underage gambling. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-online-gaming-coalition-proposes-new-system-to-address-underage-gambling-1.6670424
[2] CBC News. (2023, March 20). Quebec teen loses $2,000 to online gambling in a week, addiction expert warns of surge in underage gambling. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-teen-loses-2000-to-online-gambling-in-a-week-addiction-expert-warns-of-surge-in-underage-gambling-1.6672893
[3] Canadian Gaming Summit. (2023, May 1). Quebec loses $1.4 billion a year to unregulated online gambling, industry numbers show. Retrieved from https://www.canadiangamingsummit.com/news/quebec-loses-1-4-billion-a-year-to-unregulated-online-gambling-industry-numbers-show
[4] CBC News. (2023, June 12). Quebec Online Gaming Coalition calls for stricter regulations to combat underage gambling. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-online-gaming-coalition-calls-for-stricter-regulations-to-combat-underage-gambling-1.6679475
[5] CBC News. (2023, July 10). Quebec Online Gaming Coalition urges action to address underage gambling. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-online-gaming-coalition-urges-action-to-address-underage-gambling-1.6686904
[6] CBC News. (2023, August 15). Quebec Online Gaming Coalition calls for competitive system like Ontario's to address underage gambling. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-online-gaming-coalition-calls-for-competitive-system-like-ontarios-to-address-underage-gambling-1.6691237
Casino-and-gambling websites, despite Quebec's Espacejeux platform enforcing a legal gambling age of 18, pose a challenge because they can be easily accessed by minors due to the influence of social media stars promoting gambling and the existence of illegal sites allowing underage users to register. To address this issue, a regulated competitive system similar to Ontario's, as suggested by the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition, may potentially provide a solution by implementing stricter regulations and improved age verification.
