New Brunswick is reviewing whether to allow private companies to offer regulated online gambling, a move that could end the Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s (ALC) exclusive position in the Canadian province.

Finance Minister René Legacy confirmed that Premier Susan Holt’s government is examining regulatory options as online gambling activity increases across Canada.

The province is studying approaches adopted elsewhere, including Ontario and Alberta, but has not announced a final decision or implementation timetable.

According to Telegraph-Journal, Legacy confirmed that the government is “exploring options around regulating private online operators.”

The review comes amid growing competition from offshore gambling platforms and concerns about declining provincial lottery revenue.

Atlantic Lottery Faces Pressure From Offshore Operators

Atlantic Lottery currently provides government-regulated online casino gaming and sports betting across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The corporation is jointly owned by the four provincial governments, which receive its profits to support public services.

However, ALC estimates that gambling websites operating outside the regional framework generate more than CA$250 million annually from Atlantic Canadian customers.

Earlier estimates placed the figure between CA$140 million and CA$200 million, reflecting uncertainty about the size of the offshore market.

The corporation has also reported capturing approximately one-third of the region’s online gambling activity.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s government lottery revenue has fallen by around CA$8 million compared with two years earlier, according to provincial budget documents.

These developments have raised questions about whether licensing private operators could bring more gambling activity under provincial oversight and increase government revenue.

Atlantic Lottery spokesperson Greg Weston said decisions concerning the region’s gambling framework ultimately rest with the governments that own the corporation.

Any changes in New Brunswick would therefore need to account for its relationship with the other Atlantic provinces.

Ontario and Alberta Provide Potential Models

Ontario became Canada’s first province to introduce a competitive regulated online gambling market in April 2022, allowing private companies to offer casino games and sports betting under provincial supervision.

Alberta followed in July 2026, establishing a licensing framework for commercial operators alongside its existing government-run gambling services.

New Brunswick is considering these developments as it assesses alternatives to its current system.

Michael Naraine, an associate professor of sport management at Brock University, has suggested that the province examine regulatory models with stronger controls over operator participation.

One example is New York, where mobile sports betting operates under a limited number of licences and a 51% tax on gross gaming revenue.

Naraine also raised the possibility of cooperation between Atlantic Canadian provinces and Quebec to create a larger regulated online gambling market.

Such an arrangement could allow participating governments to share regulatory responsibilities, although no formal regional proposal has been announced.

The Canadian Alliance for Regulated Gaming has not endorsed a particular licensing model.

Its executive director, Molly Cormier, has instead emphasised consumer protection and effective enforcement as important considerations for provinces evaluating changes to gambling regulation.

Player Protection Remains a Key Consideration

New Brunswick’s review also raises questions about how the province would oversee commercial operators and address gambling advertising.

Residents already encounter promotions from gambling companies licensed in other Canadian jurisdictions, although those approvals do not automatically authorise the operators to offer regulated services in New Brunswick.

A private licensing system would require rules governing operator eligibility and responsible gambling obligations, along with procedures for monitoring compliance.

Finance and Treasury Board spokesperson David Kelly said the government is examining other jurisdictions to “maintain a safe, responsible, and appropriately regulated gaming environment for New Brunswickers.”

Supporters of market reform argue that authorising private companies could bring some activity currently taking place on offshore websites into a regulated system.

However, the financial benefits would depend on the number of operators permitted to enter the market and the taxes or fees imposed.

The government would also need to consider how any changes might affect Atlantic Lottery’s operations and its contributions to provincial finances.

For now, the existing framework remains in place. New Brunswick has introduced no legislation authorising private online gambling companies, and officials have not established a timetable for completing the review.