Quebec will challenge a Canadian Supreme Court decision that the province’s attempt to block unlicensed online gambling sites would be “unlawful,” according to local reports.
The province passed a law in 2016 that would require ISPs to block players’ access to any gaming sites that are not licensed by the Quebec government. About 2,200 sites are expected to be affected.
The national government adopts gambling legislation, but those laws can be amended by the provinces.
Opponents of the Quebec amendments say it would give the provincial government a monopoly over the province’s iGaming industry as only online casinos and lotto sites from province-owned Loto-Quebec would be available to gamblers.
Lawmakers, however, say the bill was passed to ensure consumer protections for online players in the province. Quebec also loses significant revenue to offshore gambling sites. Under the law, would face fines of up to C$76,000 for each separate offense.
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association also argued that requiring ISP’s to block the sites would be costly and violates the idea of net neutrality. The association said such bans are not effective.
The attorney general of Quebec has filed a notice of appeal to fight the Supreme Court’s ruling that the law is illegal. Even if the appeal is granted, the bill may have to be redrafted before it can be re-approved, local reports said.
