Every nation around the world has different regulations in place when it comes to online gambling. In the United States, there are just a handful of states who have licensed and regulated an online gaming market. In the United Kingdom, online gambling is prevalent and regulated by the European Gaming Commission. Around the world, gamers will find restrictions or open gaming offered based on their location. In Quebec, the government has announced a new measure is currently being reviewed to stop unregulated gambling websites from offering services to residents in the area.
Legislators in Quebec are reviewing Bill 74, which was created to limit the access by residents to gambling websites that are unauthorized within Quebec. The bill has many opponents who have expressed concern that residents will not have an open and free internet access based on the language of the bill.
The provisions located in the bill state that residents of Quebec will only have access to websites that have received approval by the government. The finance minister of Quebec stated that the bill is intended to protect residents from sites that offer illegal gambling to avoid risk. Opponents of the bill have stated that if the measure passes, Quebec will become the first province in Canada to impose an unprecedented censoring regulations on the internet.
It is also believed that Bill 74 will have to contend with the telecommunications law as well as freedom of expression that Canada is known for. A legal battle is expected as opposition feel their freedoms will be oppressed with the passage of the measure.
The government released additional information on the measure, stating that the main reason behind the weak revenues of Loto-Quebec, is due to online gambling sites. When illegal providers are blocked, young people will not be able to access sites that offer an unsafe gambling environment. Unauthorized operators will also be beneficial to the revenue numbers of Loto-Quebec.
Those in the know on the issue state that that the government of Quebec have several alternative options on the table to blocking the websites. Authorities have considered that commonly used options of payment will be stopped by way of processing transactions that are going to and from the gambling websites that are not authorized to operate in the country. Foreign operators can also be asked to withdraw services, but most feel that unauthorized gambling sites will not adhere to being asked to voluntarily move from the marketplace.
It is believed that once the blocking starts with unregulated sites, Loto-Quebec will begin to provide regulated gambling options for residents. Internet providers have also weighed in on the subject with representatives of such companies stating that if the law is passed, it would cost a lot of money for the companies to adhere to the new regulations.
Opponents of the measure also state that Canada has great pride in being a democratic country and the laws of the land should not resemble those of countries where the government decides what type of information the residents have access to. Opponents are also worried that Bill 74 will result in other provinces feeling encouraged to restrict the access of residents to gambling sites.
For now, the measure is only being discussed. Opponents will continue to fight for the bill to be thrown out while legislators will still have the option to pass the measure into law. It will be interesting to see if the province goes through with limiting the internet access of residents or if another way is found to stop unregulated online gambling providers.
