Mise-o-jeu versus international sites, the law that tried to block them and the three courts that set it aside: what Quebec law actually says in 2026.
Not offered in Ontario; sports aren't offered in Alberta. 18+ or 19+ depending on province.
| Legal age | 18 |
|---|---|
| Provincial platform | Loto-Québec's Mise-o-jeu+, with an Espacejeux account |
| Oversight | Loto-Québec (operator) and the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) |
| Offshore-licensed sites | Accessible: no blocking mechanism is in force |
| The bettor | The law targets operating gambling, not the person placing the bet |
In Canada, gambling falls first under the Criminal Code. Section 207(1)(a) lets a province conduct and manage a lottery scheme, which includes sports betting. In Quebec, that role belongs to Loto-Québec, created under the Act respecting the Société des loteries du Québec (CQLR, c. S-13.1).
Until 2021, the Criminal Code banned betting on a single game: you had to combine several picks. The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218, S.C. 2021, c. 16), given royal assent on June 29, 2021 and in force since August 27, 2021, lifted that ban. It also covers esports, recognized as a sporting event.
The key point: Criminal Code offences target those who operate gambling without authorization, not people who bet. No Quebec bettor is targeted simply for wagering on an international site.
| Mise-o-jeu+ (Loto-Québec) | International sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | The only platform authorized by the province | Foreign licence (Curaçao for our three operators) |
| Recourse | Quebec authority, Mon auto-exclusion tool | Recourse through the foreign licensing authority |
| Welcome bonus | Limited offer | Up to $1,000 at our operators |
| Markets | Major sports, narrower selection | Wider catalogue, esports, Predictions section |
| Payments | Standard Canadian methods | Interac, cards, e-wallets and crypto |
The choice often comes down to this: Mise-o-jeu gives you Quebec recourse, international sites give you more choice and better bonuses. Always read the withdrawal terms before depositing — see our deposits and withdrawals comparison.
In May 2016, Quebec's National Assembly passed An Act respecting mainly the implementation of certain provisions of the Budget Speech of 26 March 2015 (S.Q. 2016, c. 7), known as "Bill 74." Its section 12 added sections 260.33 to 260.37 to the Consumer Protection Act (CQLR, c. P-40.1).
The heart of the scheme, section 260.35 C.P.A., required internet service providers to block gambling sites on a list drawn up by Loto-Québec. More than 2,200 sites were targeted. The government cited consumer protection; critics saw it mainly as a way to shore up Loto-Québec's monopoly. The provisions never came into force.
The Superior Court also noted that if a province believes a site breaches the Criminal Code, the route within its own jurisdiction is police action against the operator, not a blocking duty imposed on ISPs.
Prediction markets (crypto, culture, economy, geopolitics) have no framework of their own in Quebec: it's a regulatory void, not an express authorization. See our predictions guide for how they work and province-by-province availability.
See also our responsible gambling page and the best sites for Quebec ranking. Elsewhere in Canada: British Columbia · New Brunswick · Alberta · all provinces.
General information on the applicable law, current as of September 2026. This guide is not legal advice.
Not offered in Ontario; sports aren't offered in Alberta. 18+ or 19+ depending on province.
Not for the bettor. The Criminal Code targets unauthorized operation of gambling, not the person placing a bet, and no blocking mechanism is in force in Quebec.
The 2016 law requiring ISPs to block them (s. 260.35 C.P.A.) was struck down by the Superior Court in 2018, upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2021 (2021 QCCA 730), and the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal in 2022.
18, as in Manitoba and Alberta. Everywhere else in Canada, it's 19.
It's the only platform authorized by the province. Offshore-licensed sites have no Quebec authorization, but Quebecers can access and bet on them without being targeted by the law.
Up to $1,000 sports bonus
