Quebec Fails to Enforce Anti-iGaming Legislation
Welcome news for fans of mobile casino in Canada, as a piece of restrictive legislation has been rejected by the courts. Ever since it was first proposed in 2016, Quebec’s Bill 74 has received lukewarm support at best, so there were sighs of relief all round when it was struck down as unconstitutional by the Superior Court of the province. It was the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) who originally contested the bill, arguing that the provisions therein could set a dangerous precedent in restricting the internet freedoms of Canadian citizens.
The original legislation was intended to protect Quebec’s local online and mobile casino market from international competition, and it sought to compel internet service providers to block any online casino site that was not affiliated to the state and had not received approval from Loto-Quebec. State-run mobile gaming sites find that they simply cannot offer the same odds and house edge as private companies, as the majority of profits are ploughed back into the public coffers. Thanks to the CWTA, mobile slots players can continue to enjoy the high RTP offered by international iGaming providers.
Victory for Internet Freedom
The bill itself penalized ISPs who failed to block the blacklisted sites, giving the province the power to impose large fines and even revoke licences where a breach was deemed to have occurred. The CWTA first contested the bill in July 2017, claiming that it violated the Telecommunications Act, and Justice Pierre Nollet agreed, stating that this kind of legislation does not fall within provincial jurisdiction.
Further down the road, the potential effects of such restrictions could be very damaging to the consumer, opponents warned, leading to an assault on net neutrality similar to the one currently being fought out in the USA. Building a firewall around Quebec would not only be impractical and expensive, ISPs claimed, but could also lead to further restrictions on internet freedoms.
Sending a Clear Message
The news has come as a great relief to ISPs, the iGaming industry and fans of online and mobile casinos alike. Regulating online gambling in Canada is a thorny issue that lawmakers have been grappling with from the beginning, and many international online casino providers have been wary of building their brand in the Canadian market, for fear of being forced out again with laws like Bill 74.
In rejecting the bill, the Quebec Superior Court has sent the message that such legislation, should it occur, should be dealt with by national mandate, and not by individual provinces. For players, this means that they can continue to legally play at their preferred international online or mobile casino. For overseas online casino companies, it is an encouraging sign that Canada still intends to welcome them into the market.
It’s hoped that this landmark decision is a sign of good things to come for online gambling in Canada, as the market continues to expand and create more choice for the customer. Canadians can for the foreseeable future take advantage of the cutting-edge mobile casino technology coming out of the European market.
