Online Casinos in Quebec - All You Need To Know
Quebec online casinos and the entire gambling industry in this Canadian province are incredibly diverse. It is essential for newcomers and professional players to understand all local specifics and use them in their favor. Here you will find a complete guide on gambling in Quebec, main laws and regulations, in-depth information about top casinos, and answers to popular questions.
Top Quebec Online Casinos
Gambling in Quebec: Key Figures
Quebec online casino industry is one of the oldest and most developed in Canada. The province itself is the largest and second most populated state of the country. Today it is home to about 8.3 million people. According to statistics, almost every second resident has played in a casino at least once in a lifetime.
Quebec is also home to more than 10 big casinos and dozens of small gambling clubs. Every day they are visited by about 17 thousand guests. And this is not surprising as gambling in Quebec is quite popular among all age categories. Most of the local players (40%) are 35-55 years old. The second largest group (30%) is the young casino lovers between 18-34 years.
5 Most Played Casino Games in Province
All land-based institutions and online gambling Quebec platforms offer a wide selection of classic casino games. But the most popular ones among local players are the following:
Video Poker
It attracts Canadians with highest payout percentage and the ability to affect the outcome of every gaming session. While in other games much depends on luck, the video poker player can calculate cards and successfully defeat gaming algorithms.
Roulette
The roulette is extremely popular thanks to the simplicity of the rules and its unique luxurious charm. There are two kinds of roulette you can play in a Quebec casino: European and American.
Slots
In every Quebec casino, guests can find colorful fast payout slot machines with special designs, and huge jackpots. Local land-based casinos hold hundreds of the best payout slots, and websites sometimes have several thousand themed machines.
Blackjack
Blackjack is also highly popular in Quebec. Its rules are straightforward and suitable for new players. On the other hand, the game gives a chance for professionals to calculate odds and easily beat the dealer.
Live Dealer
Almost every online Quebec casino allows gamers to enjoy the casino atmosphere even without leaving home. Live streaming from the studios with live dealers has become extremely popular during the pandemic.
Top Gambling Facts About Quebec
Quebec online casinos industry is now at its peak. But the spread of gambling in the province has a long history behind it. Native Quebecers played a variety of games before the arrival of the colonists. For several centuries, the government banned gambling and only in 1900 allowed playing bingo.
In the future, gambling was gradually legalized and became more widespread among the Quebec population. Today, it is one of the most common leisure activities in the province. But during the pandemic, all local casinos were closed. The official casino Quebec reopening date was June 2021. Still, quarantine restrictions remain active in the province. Casinos accept only vaccinated visitors and gambling halls should only be 50% full.
Apart from the casino, players in Quebec have access to various lotteries of the state corporation Loto-Quebec. It has a network of more than 9,000 retailers in the province that provide instant, traditional, and fastest payout online lotteries.
Local Gambling Laws and Regulations
No wonder that all gamblers always ask the same question — is online gambling legal in canada? The local gaming legislation is quite confusing and sometimes contradicts itself. This is due to the fact that although gambling was legalized by the Canadian Government in 1999, each of the 13 provinces sets the rules and regulates this industry independently.
Quebec adopted all the relevant laws in 1978. These are two main documents: Act respecting the Société des loteries du Québec, and Act respecting lotteries, publicity contests, and amusement machines. According to the Quebec gaming control act, gambling is legal from the age of 18. However, gambling services can only be provided by licensed state-owned companies. The monopolists in the casino, lottery, and betting fields are the state corporation Loto-Québec and its organization Societe des casinos du Québec.
Gambling websites in Quebec were banned until 2009. And the first legal online poker room appeared in the province only in 2010. Because of the limited number of state gambling platforms, most players visit offshore Canadian and European websites.
Leading Online Casinos in Quebec
More than a hundred Quebec casino online platforms can be found on the Internet. Each of them has some unique characteristics, specific deposit and withdrawal methods, major types of games, strengths, and weaknesses. Based on such information, It is possible to make the following top list of the best online casinos in Quebec:
Best Land Based Casinos in Quebec
In addition to online casino Quebec platforms, real casinos also remain particularly popular. Every year they attract more than 10 million visitors from all over the world. Here are some of the best land-based Quebec casino institutions:
Casino Montreal
It was opened in 1993 in the former Expo’67 Pavillon de la France. It has long been one of the city’s main attractions. Today, Montreal offers five gaming floors full of diverse entertainment. All guests will find hundreds of gaming tables, 3,000 no deposit slot machines, video poker, American roulette, blackjack, and many other games.
Casino du Lac-Leamy
This Quebec casino was built in 1996 on a unique location in a former quarry on the edge of Lake Leamy. In 2001 It was expanded by the luxury Hilton Lac Leamy hotel, conference center, concert hall, and a nightclub. The Lac Leamy now holds 1,800 slot machines, 60 gaming tables, including blackjack, American and English roulette, poker, and other entertainments.
Casino de Charlevoix
The Charlevoix was opened in 1994 on the cliffs of Pointe Aux Peaks with a panoramic view of the city. It was the first Quebec gambling institution that offered hotel services to its guests. The gaming room is equipped with 700 slots, 18 gaming tables for blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker.
How We Evaluate Top Quebec Casinos
Licensing
All online casino Canada legal platforms are required to have a license that is recognized by one of the international gaming commissions. This ensures that the website provides quality services and players are protected by the law. Unique codes from Quebec websites are double-checked with the special database.
Safety
Modern gaming platforms use the latest 128-bit SSL encryption technology to secure transactions and players’ personal information. Moreover, the gaming engines should also be certified and protected against hacking and data interception.
Bonuses and Promotions
Different promotional programs with free spins and no deposit offers are always a sign of good customer service from the website. But all bonuses should have clear rules without any pitfalls and hidden conditions. It is always necessary to check wagering requirements and other special terms.
Payout Time
Modern websites should support fast payouts and do not ask for numerous documents. In the case of the big winnings, the payout time should not exceed 7 days, for small amounts — no more than 3 days.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Most top rated Quebec casinos support multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, not only visa and mastercard services. For instance: Interac, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, and etc. Special attention should be paid to the minimum and maximum limits as well as commissions of the platform.
Platforms and Apps
Quality gaming platforms are the key to a pleasant and productive game. Freezes and crashes should not occur and distract visitors from the gameplay. Mobile adaptations of the website must be compatible with tablets, iOS, Android, and other operating systems. Also, users should have access to fast and professional customer support.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the legal age for online gambling in Quebec?
The legal online casino Quebec gambling age is 18 years.
- Who regulates the gambling industry in Quebec?
The gambling industry in Quebec is regulated by the province itself. Main laws and restrictions are stated in two gambling acts signed in 1978. Quebec casinos are regulated by the Loto-Québec Corporation and its subsidiary Societe des casinos du Québec
- Are there any taxes on gambling winnings in Quebec?
There is a tax for professional players who have special skills, regularly win big amounts, and also expect large regular winnings in the future. Ordinary players do not pay any taxes.
- What payment methods are the fastest and safest in Quebec?
The fastest and safest payment methods are Interac, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, and other crypto-wallets.
About the author
David G. Schwartz
