New Brunswick is reviewing whether to allow private online casino and sportsbook operators into its regulated gambling market, potentially becoming the third Canadian province to introduce a competitive online gambling framework.
Finance Minister René Legacy confirmed that the provincial government is examining regulatory options and studying models used in other jurisdictions, according to reporting by the Telegraph-Journal on October 19 and subsequent coverage.
The review could represent a significant change for Atlantic Canada's gambling industry. Currently, Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), a Crown corporation jointly owned by four provincial governments, operates New Brunswick's only legally authorized online gambling platform.
The discussions come amid increasing competition from offshore gambling websites and concerns about declining government lottery revenue.
However, New Brunswick has not approved private online casino licensing, introduced legislation or announced a market-opening date.
The development follows the expansion of regulated commercial gambling in Ontario and Alberta, raising the possibility that Canada's competitive online casino market could eventually extend into Atlantic Canada.
According to the Government of New Brunswick, Atlantic Lottery's website is the province's only legal and regulated online gambling platform.
Nevertheless, residents can encounter offshore gambling websites that operate outside the province's authorized framework.
This creates a regulatory and commercial challenge. While Atlantic Lottery operates under provincial oversight and returns profits to its government shareholders, competing offshore websites may attract customers without contributing comparable revenue to the provincial system.
The government is now examining whether allowing commercial operators to participate in a regulated market could provide a more effective response.
Finance Minister René Legacy has indicated that officials are studying how other jurisdictions approach private online gambling.
The review does not necessarily mean that New Brunswick intends to abandon Atlantic Lottery's role. A future competitive model could potentially retain the Crown corporation alongside licensed commercial operators, as has happened elsewhere in Canada.
The province has not indicated which structure it prefers.
Atlantic Lottery estimates that gambling websites operating outside its authorized market generate more than CA$250 million in annual revenue across Atlantic Canada.
This is a regional estimate covering the four Atlantic provinces, not a figure attributable exclusively to New Brunswick.
The estimate also does not mean that the provincial governments would automatically collect CA$250 million if private operators were licensed. Operator revenue, government revenue and potential tax receipts are different financial measures.
However, the figure illustrates the scale of commercial activity that may currently fall outside the Atlantic Lottery system.
Provincial budget figures cited in recent reporting also indicate that New Brunswick's government lottery revenue has declined by approximately CA$8 million compared with two years earlier.
The decline cannot automatically be attributed entirely to offshore online gambling. Changes in consumer spending, product performance and other factors may also influence lottery revenue.
Nevertheless, the combination of declining public returns and competition from external operators gives policymakers a financial reason to examine alternative regulatory structures.
Ontario launched its competitive regulated online gambling market in April 2022, allowing private companies to operate through agreements with iGaming Ontario and registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Alberta followed on July 13, 2026, opening its regulated market to commercial online casino and sportsbook operators.
Both provinces now provide practical examples of how government oversight can coexist with private gambling businesses.
According to iGaming Ontario's 2024–2025 market report, the province recorded:
Ontario's results suggest that a competitive licensing framework can attract substantial commercial activity while bringing a significant proportion of online gamblers into a regulated environment.
However, the market has not eliminated unregulated gambling, and its performance cannot be assumed to translate directly to a smaller province such as New Brunswick.
The Alberta iGaming Corporation confirmed that the market opened with 22 registered gaming sites.
The province introduced a framework requiring approved operators to comply with regulatory standards covering player protection, responsible gambling and operational oversight.
Alberta's government estimated that approximately 70% of online gambling activity had previously occurred on unregulated offshore platforms.
The market's launch provides New Brunswick with a more recent example of how a province can transition from a government-centered online gambling model toward a system involving private operators.
However, Alberta's long-term results are still developing, and its initial launch figures should not be interpreted as proof of future market performance.
Unlike a private casino operator, the corporation operates on behalf of four provincial government shareholders.
Its revenue supports public finances across Atlantic Canada, making changes to its competitive position a matter of public policy as well as commercial strategy.
Opening the market could create additional competition for Atlantic Lottery's online casino and sportsbook products.
Private operators might introduce different gaming portfolios, promotional strategies, customer loyalty programs and technology platforms.
That competition could place pressure on Atlantic Lottery to improve its digital products and customer experience.
At the same time, allowing private operators could potentially generate new public revenue through licensing fees, taxes or revenue-sharing arrangements.
The outcome would depend on the regulatory model adopted, the number of participating operators and the extent to which gambling activity shifts from unregulated websites into the authorized market.
New Brunswick would also need to consider whether reform should apply only within its borders or involve cooperation with other Atlantic provinces.
No regional licensing agreement has been announced.
The government would have to determine which authority would approve and supervise commercial operators, how gambling revenue would be distributed and what conditions companies would need to satisfy before accepting customers.
A competitive framework could also require rules governing advertising, identity verification, anti-money laundering controls, game integrity and customer funds.
Responsible gambling would be particularly important.
Ontario and Alberta have incorporated player-protection requirements into their regulatory models, demonstrating that competitive markets can impose common standards across participating operators.
For New Brunswick, a future framework could potentially include deposit limits, self-exclusion mechanisms, age verification and measures to identify potentially harmful gambling behavior.
These are examples of regulatory options available to policymakers, not requirements already proposed by New Brunswick.
The government has not published draft regulations or confirmed which safeguards it might adopt.
Supporters of competitive markets argue that allowing established commercial brands to operate legally can increase consumer choice and reduce the appeal of unregulated alternatives.
The theory is that players may be more willing to use regulated websites when those platforms offer competitive games, payment methods and customer experiences.
However, licensing alone does not guarantee that offshore gambling will disappear.
The attractiveness of regulated operators also depends on taxation, product restrictions, advertising rules, consumer confidence and enforcement against unauthorized businesses.
Ontario's experience is instructive. Its regulated market has achieved substantial adoption, but official research indicates that some players continue to use unregulated websites.
New Brunswick would therefore need to consider both market access and enforcement when evaluating whether a competitive model could improve consumer protection.
A competitive framework might create opportunities for online casino operators, sportsbook providers, game developers, payment processors and gambling technology suppliers.
Businesses already operating in Ontario or Alberta could potentially use their experience with Canadian regulatory requirements when assessing entry into another province.
However, New Brunswick's smaller population and the costs of licensing, compliance and customer acquisition would influence commercial decisions.
The province has not announced an application process, licensing fees, tax rates or eligibility requirements.
Consequently, it would be premature to identify particular operators as confirmed market entrants.
The commercial significance of the review lies in the possibility of future expansion rather than any immediate authorization to operate.
New Brunswick is now considering whether a similar approach would be appropriate for its own market.
The next stage will depend on whether the government moves from policy exploration to a formal proposal.
That could involve public consultations, legislative amendments, regulatory design and discussions with Atlantic Lottery or other provincial stakeholders.
None of those steps has been formally scheduled.
The timing is therefore uncertain, and there is no confirmed indication that New Brunswick will introduce private online casino licensing in 2027.
For now, the development represents a potential change in regulatory direction rather than an approved market opening.
Ontario and Alberta have chosen to bring private operators into provincial regulatory frameworks.
New Brunswick is examining whether maintaining its existing model is sufficient when consumers can access gambling websites beyond the authorized provincial system.
The financial implications are substantial.
Atlantic Lottery's estimate of more than CA$250 million in annual external gambling revenue across the region suggests that a significant market exists beyond the Crown corporation's operations.
Yet the policy decision involves more than recovering potential revenue.
A competitive market could expand consumer choice and encourage investment, but it could also increase advertising, promotional competition and gambling availability.
For policymakers, the challenge is determining whether the benefits of regulated competition outweigh the additional risks and administrative costs.
New Brunswick's decision could also influence discussions elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, particularly because the four provinces jointly own Atlantic Lottery.
The most important development to watch is whether the government publishes a formal regulatory proposal, rather than simply continuing to study the options.
Until that happens, Atlantic Lottery remains the province's only authorized online gambling platform, and private operators have not received permission to enter the market.
Chen, Z. (2026, October 20). New Brunswick considers regulating private online gambling operators. Covers. https://www.covers.com/industry/new-brunswick-considers-regulating-private-online-gambling-operators-oct-20-2026
Government of New Brunswick. (n.d.). Gaming in New Brunswick.
iGaming Ontario. (2025, April 24). iGaming Ontario posts steady growth as market matures in year 3. https://igamingontario.ca/en/news/igaming-ontario-posts-steady-growth-market-matures-year-3
iGaming Ontario. (2025). Annual report 2024–2025.
iGaming Ontario. (2026). 2026–2029 business plan.
Finance Minister René Legacy confirmed that the provincial government is examining regulatory options and studying models used in other jurisdictions, according to reporting by the Telegraph-Journal on October 19 and subsequent coverage.
The review could represent a significant change for Atlantic Canada's gambling industry. Currently, Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), a Crown corporation jointly owned by four provincial governments, operates New Brunswick's only legally authorized online gambling platform.
The discussions come amid increasing competition from offshore gambling websites and concerns about declining government lottery revenue.
However, New Brunswick has not approved private online casino licensing, introduced legislation or announced a market-opening date.
The development follows the expansion of regulated commercial gambling in Ontario and Alberta, raising the possibility that Canada's competitive online casino market could eventually extend into Atlantic Canada.
Why New Brunswick Is Reviewing Its Online Gambling Market
New Brunswick's current gambling framework gives Atlantic Lottery responsibility for providing regulated online casino games, digital lottery products and sports betting through its platform.According to the Government of New Brunswick, Atlantic Lottery's website is the province's only legal and regulated online gambling platform.
Nevertheless, residents can encounter offshore gambling websites that operate outside the province's authorized framework.
This creates a regulatory and commercial challenge. While Atlantic Lottery operates under provincial oversight and returns profits to its government shareholders, competing offshore websites may attract customers without contributing comparable revenue to the provincial system.
The government is now examining whether allowing commercial operators to participate in a regulated market could provide a more effective response.
Finance Minister René Legacy has indicated that officials are studying how other jurisdictions approach private online gambling.
The review does not necessarily mean that New Brunswick intends to abandon Atlantic Lottery's role. A future competitive model could potentially retain the Crown corporation alongside licensed commercial operators, as has happened elsewhere in Canada.
The province has not indicated which structure it prefers.
Offshore Gambling Could Be Costing Atlantic Canada More Than CA$250 Million Annually
One of the strongest arguments for reviewing New Brunswick's online gambling framework concerns the amount of gambling activity taking place outside the regulated provincial system.Atlantic Lottery estimates that gambling websites operating outside its authorized market generate more than CA$250 million in annual revenue across Atlantic Canada.
This is a regional estimate covering the four Atlantic provinces, not a figure attributable exclusively to New Brunswick.
The estimate also does not mean that the provincial governments would automatically collect CA$250 million if private operators were licensed. Operator revenue, government revenue and potential tax receipts are different financial measures.
However, the figure illustrates the scale of commercial activity that may currently fall outside the Atlantic Lottery system.
Provincial budget figures cited in recent reporting also indicate that New Brunswick's government lottery revenue has declined by approximately CA$8 million compared with two years earlier.
The decline cannot automatically be attributed entirely to offshore online gambling. Changes in consumer spending, product performance and other factors may also influence lottery revenue.
Nevertheless, the combination of declining public returns and competition from external operators gives policymakers a financial reason to examine alternative regulatory structures.
Ontario and Alberta Provide Two Models for New Brunswick
New Brunswick's review comes after two major developments in Canadian online gambling regulation.Ontario launched its competitive regulated online gambling market in April 2022, allowing private companies to operate through agreements with iGaming Ontario and registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Alberta followed on July 13, 2026, opening its regulated market to commercial online casino and sportsbook operators.
Both provinces now provide practical examples of how government oversight can coexist with private gambling businesses.
Ontario: Competition, Revenue and Player Channelization
Ontario's experience offers evidence of how a competitive market can develop over several years.According to iGaming Ontario's 2024–2025 market report, the province recorded:
- CA$82.7 billion in total wagers.
- Approximately CA$3.2 billion in reported gaming revenue under its market-performance methodology.
- 49 operators offering 84 gaming websites at the reporting date.
- An estimated 83.7% of surveyed online gamblers using regulated websites.
Ontario's results suggest that a competitive licensing framework can attract substantial commercial activity while bringing a significant proportion of online gamblers into a regulated environment.
However, the market has not eliminated unregulated gambling, and its performance cannot be assumed to translate directly to a smaller province such as New Brunswick.
Alberta: A More Recent Market Opening
Alberta's commercial online gambling market launched in July 2026, making it Canada's second competitive regulated jurisdiction.The Alberta iGaming Corporation confirmed that the market opened with 22 registered gaming sites.
The province introduced a framework requiring approved operators to comply with regulatory standards covering player protection, responsible gambling and operational oversight.
Alberta's government estimated that approximately 70% of online gambling activity had previously occurred on unregulated offshore platforms.
The market's launch provides New Brunswick with a more recent example of how a province can transition from a government-centered online gambling model toward a system involving private operators.
However, Alberta's long-term results are still developing, and its initial launch figures should not be interpreted as proof of future market performance.
What Could Happen to Atlantic Lottery?
Atlantic Lottery is central to any discussion about reforming New Brunswick's gambling market.Unlike a private casino operator, the corporation operates on behalf of four provincial government shareholders.
Its revenue supports public finances across Atlantic Canada, making changes to its competitive position a matter of public policy as well as commercial strategy.
Opening the market could create additional competition for Atlantic Lottery's online casino and sportsbook products.
Private operators might introduce different gaming portfolios, promotional strategies, customer loyalty programs and technology platforms.
That competition could place pressure on Atlantic Lottery to improve its digital products and customer experience.
At the same time, allowing private operators could potentially generate new public revenue through licensing fees, taxes or revenue-sharing arrangements.
The outcome would depend on the regulatory model adopted, the number of participating operators and the extent to which gambling activity shifts from unregulated websites into the authorized market.
New Brunswick would also need to consider whether reform should apply only within its borders or involve cooperation with other Atlantic provinces.
No regional licensing agreement has been announced.
Could New Brunswick Introduce a New Online Casino Licensing Framework?
If the province eventually decides to open its market, several regulatory questions would need to be addressed.The government would have to determine which authority would approve and supervise commercial operators, how gambling revenue would be distributed and what conditions companies would need to satisfy before accepting customers.
A competitive framework could also require rules governing advertising, identity verification, anti-money laundering controls, game integrity and customer funds.
Responsible gambling would be particularly important.
Ontario and Alberta have incorporated player-protection requirements into their regulatory models, demonstrating that competitive markets can impose common standards across participating operators.
For New Brunswick, a future framework could potentially include deposit limits, self-exclusion mechanisms, age verification and measures to identify potentially harmful gambling behavior.
These are examples of regulatory options available to policymakers, not requirements already proposed by New Brunswick.
The government has not published draft regulations or confirmed which safeguards it might adopt.
Would Private Licensing Reduce Offshore Gambling?
A central policy question is whether licensing private operators would encourage New Brunswick residents to move from offshore websites to locally regulated platforms.Supporters of competitive markets argue that allowing established commercial brands to operate legally can increase consumer choice and reduce the appeal of unregulated alternatives.
The theory is that players may be more willing to use regulated websites when those platforms offer competitive games, payment methods and customer experiences.
However, licensing alone does not guarantee that offshore gambling will disappear.
The attractiveness of regulated operators also depends on taxation, product restrictions, advertising rules, consumer confidence and enforcement against unauthorized businesses.
Ontario's experience is instructive. Its regulated market has achieved substantial adoption, but official research indicates that some players continue to use unregulated websites.
New Brunswick would therefore need to consider both market access and enforcement when evaluating whether a competitive model could improve consumer protection.
What Would Market Expansion Mean for Casino Operators and Suppliers?
For international casino companies, New Brunswick could eventually become another Canadian market requiring local authorization.A competitive framework might create opportunities for online casino operators, sportsbook providers, game developers, payment processors and gambling technology suppliers.
Businesses already operating in Ontario or Alberta could potentially use their experience with Canadian regulatory requirements when assessing entry into another province.
However, New Brunswick's smaller population and the costs of licensing, compliance and customer acquisition would influence commercial decisions.
The province has not announced an application process, licensing fees, tax rates or eligibility requirements.
Consequently, it would be premature to identify particular operators as confirmed market entrants.
The commercial significance of the review lies in the possibility of future expansion rather than any immediate authorization to operate.
Could New Brunswick Become Canada's Third Competitive Online Casino Province?
Ontario and Alberta have established two different competitive market structures within Canada's provincial gambling framework.New Brunswick is now considering whether a similar approach would be appropriate for its own market.
The next stage will depend on whether the government moves from policy exploration to a formal proposal.
That could involve public consultations, legislative amendments, regulatory design and discussions with Atlantic Lottery or other provincial stakeholders.
None of those steps has been formally scheduled.
The timing is therefore uncertain, and there is no confirmed indication that New Brunswick will introduce private online casino licensing in 2027.
For now, the development represents a potential change in regulatory direction rather than an approved market opening.
Canada's Gambling Market Is Becoming More Fragmented
New Brunswick's review reflects a broader question facing Canadian gambling policymakers, namely whether exclusive government-operated online gambling systems remain the most effective way to regulate an increasingly international digital market.Ontario and Alberta have chosen to bring private operators into provincial regulatory frameworks.
New Brunswick is examining whether maintaining its existing model is sufficient when consumers can access gambling websites beyond the authorized provincial system.
The financial implications are substantial.
Atlantic Lottery's estimate of more than CA$250 million in annual external gambling revenue across the region suggests that a significant market exists beyond the Crown corporation's operations.
Yet the policy decision involves more than recovering potential revenue.
A competitive market could expand consumer choice and encourage investment, but it could also increase advertising, promotional competition and gambling availability.
For policymakers, the challenge is determining whether the benefits of regulated competition outweigh the additional risks and administrative costs.
New Brunswick's decision could also influence discussions elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, particularly because the four provinces jointly own Atlantic Lottery.
The most important development to watch is whether the government publishes a formal regulatory proposal, rather than simply continuing to study the options.
Until that happens, Atlantic Lottery remains the province's only authorized online gambling platform, and private operators have not received permission to enter the market.
References
Alberta iGaming Corporation. (2026, July 13). Alberta's regulated iGaming market officially launches with player protection as top priority.Chen, Z. (2026, October 20). New Brunswick considers regulating private online gambling operators. Covers. https://www.covers.com/industry/new-brunswick-considers-regulating-private-online-gambling-operators-oct-20-2026
Government of New Brunswick. (n.d.). Gaming in New Brunswick.
iGaming Ontario. (2025, April 24). iGaming Ontario posts steady growth as market matures in year 3. https://igamingontario.ca/en/news/igaming-ontario-posts-steady-growth-market-matures-year-3
iGaming Ontario. (2025). Annual report 2024–2025.
iGaming Ontario. (2026). 2026–2029 business plan.
Добави файлове
Our Featured Casino Partners
Добави файлове
100% up to €1,000 + 100 FS + Instant Bonus Round
Welcome bonus
Game providers
...
Play now
18+|New customers|T&C Apply
€1000 Welcome Package + 350 Free Spins
Welcome bonus
Game providers
...
Play now
18+|New customers|T&C Apply
100% up to €2000 + 300 Free Spins + 50 Exclusive
Welcome bonus
Game providers
...
Play now
18+|New customers|T&C Apply
Also in Diva Jackpot News
Добави файлове
21 October,
2026
Polymarket Removes $450,000 Criminal Case Prediction Market
Polymarket has removed a controversial $450,000 prediction market tied to s...
20 October,
2026
Hacksaw Enters Prediction Markets as Malta Expands License and US Rules Evolve
acksaw Group has expanded its Malta license to launch a B2B prediction mark...
