The Government of Philippe Couillard will soon propose a legislative amendment that would force Internet providers to block access to Quebecers to online gaming websites that are said to be 'illegal', such as PokerStars, Party Poker and Full Tilt Poker. (in reality, there is a blur on this subject and poker rooms are not illegal precisely. They are only according to Loto-Québec)
To become legal, these online games sites managed by private operators must first reach an agreement with the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ)
According to Loto-Quebec, Quebeckers have access to 2000 sites of illegal in Quebec paris. Any clarifications at the outset, that this number is random and that no such list exists. This figure is in our opinion greatly exaggerated.
Therefore, if the legislative change is applied such that the Couillard Government seems to want, Espacejeux would be the only site of accessible game for Quebecers.
200 M$ would escape Loto-Québec
Couillard Government hopes to recover 13.5 M year next on the $200M that escape them (in their words).
His Government hoped might as well put a "band-aid" on hemorrhage of Loto-Québec whose profits are plummeting for several years. The profits of the Crown Corporation went from 1, $335G in 2010-2011 to 1, $144G in 2013-2014.
Mismanagement or unfair competition?
Rather than questioning the management of Loto-Québec, seeking culprits. In this well section of Loto-Québec (online game), people blame the illegalsites.
But why do Quebecers choose these illegal rather than Espacejeux sites? Poker players that we are know: Espacejeux game platform is exceeded, the customer service is not trained adequately to meet the customers (the wacky responses indicating a lack of knowledge are common), promotional offers are not competitive and until recently, the bugs were frequent on the platform. This is therefore not by chance if the majority of poker players online Quebec turn to another offer from game than that offered by Loto-Québec.
Therefore, there are less players on Espacejeux and which says less players, said... fewer players! In poker, as in many areas, people attract people. Would you go in a desert casino?
Isn't so the "fault" to illegal sites if Espacejeux is less money that his rivals said illegal, but because its management should be reviewed, just like its software.
To say that Espacejeux loses 200 M$ illegalsites profits, is like saying that if my amateur rap album is not well sold, this is because Eminem was too popular and that it removes me clients. Rather than focusing on the bad guys, Loto-Québec should question and review its management. Why could the mismanagement of our Crown corporation not be the cause of such loss of profits? This is not a statement, but a question.
Like a poker player, managers must adapt to their environment. And if we take only division game online, the fact to modernize the software, to have better trained employees and a more aggressive strategy (knowing well the requirements of the players) could increase profits without even worrying about illegalsites. This is not forbidding players to go elsewhere that it will bring them home, but by becoming more attractive. Loto-Québec is here as a jealous husband who banned the outputs to his wife hoping his love and his faithfulness without nothing to propose.
In conclusion, should quickly withdraw our money on "illegal" sites? Non. It is just for the moment an idea of Bill. It may take several months before the proposed and then, several months before the companies adapt. And it is not impossible that he is not accepted. After all, this is Internet and our freedom that we are trying here to control. If this Bill is accepted, what will be the next step? Will we block informational sites that convey information contrary to the political party in place? Will we block pornography websites on the pretext that they convey snapshots? Will we block access to PayPal, Skrill and Neteller on the pretext that these sites are losing profits at credit unions? Will we block access to Ebay and Amazon because Pierre - Karl Péladeau wants to make more profits with Archambault?
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