Posted on: June 5, 2026, 12:44h.
Last updated on: June 5, 2026, 12:44h.
- Net income exceeded $1.5 billion for fourth year in a row
- Crown corporation said record $1.914 billion paid out to lottery winners in FY 2025-26
- Growing calls to bring in an Ontario-style open market model
Loto-Québec topped $3 billion in total revenues for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a record, according to an annual report released by the crown corporation.
Calls for Ontario-Style iGaming Model
Loto-Québec generated $3.089 billion in total revenues, with $1.525 billion in net income (the fourth consecutive year it has passed the $1.5 billion barrier), which is invested back into the province.
In a statement, Loto-Québec President and CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron seemed to acknowledge growing calls for a new regulatory regime for the province, which would break up the current government-controlled monopoly, bringing in private igaming operators to compete, similar to the Ontario and Alberta models.
Need for Oversight
“This excellent performance shows the strength of our organization and our ability to maintain our growth trajectory, while generating significant spin-offs for Québec,” said Bergeron.
“It is essential that Loto-Québec strengthen its position in online gaming, including sports betting, to ensure greater oversight and that the profits generated benefit the people of Québec. We’re promoting a responsible approach, aiming to capture the market rather than stimulate its growth.”
Quebec Election This Fall
As we’ve reported, a provincial election is scheduled for this October. According to 338Canada this morning, it’s a three-party race – Parti Québécois, at 30%, the Liberal Party, at 28%, and the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), at 20%.
Ariane Gauthier, the spokesperson for the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), an industry group representing major operators including DraftKings, Flutter, Entain, Betway, Bet99, Rush Street, and Apricot, said the two leading opposition parties have met with the QOGC and are open to examining a scenario that opens the Quebec market up more to a regulated, open competitive set-up.
Impacts of iGaming Advertising
The CAQ, Gauthier told Casino.org, is not in favour of opening the market up.
One of the big concerns in changing things, expressed by the opposition parties, she added, was the level of igaming advertising seen in the Ontario market, and negative impacts on youth.
“However, the amount of advertising in Ontario reflects Ontario’s choices,” she said. “We can regulate private igaming offerings in Quebec with different rules, maybe stricter rules. You don’t have to cut and paste a model.”
$1.9 Billion Paid to Lottery Winners
According to the Loto-Québec annual report, a record amount was paid out to lottery winners during the 2025-26 fiscal year – $1.914 billion.
When looking at the revenue breakdown by sector: casinos and gaming halls generated $1.301 billion, lottery games $995.6 million, and gaming establishments (games offered outside Loto-Québec casinos and gaming halls, including sports betting, video lottery terminals in bars, and bingo and Kinzo halls) $814.5 million.
Fourth Gaming Hall Opened
In December, Loto-Québec announced the opening of a fourth gaming hall, which will be located in Saguenay, on the grounds of the Delta Hotel property and its conference centre.
“The fact that 81% of Quebec online players choose lotoquebec.com is a sign that Loto-Québec’s online offering meets customer needs,” the statement read.
However, Quebec is going to be one of the more interesting markets to watch through the end of the year. According to research into channelization rates across Canada, provided by TRM Public Affairs, the total available igaming market in Quebec is just under $3.1 billion, with 27% of play channelled to the regulated space, 73% to the unregulated. TRM estimated that $2.3 billion in gross gaming revenue is being lost to the unregulated market in the province.
