Quebec Won’t Block Online Gambling Websites for Now
- Canadian Radio-televisions and Telecommunications Commission claims any new law attempting to block Web gambling sites would have no teeth as the agency has final say
- Site blocking was to commence at start of new year had the measure been okayed
- AG suspended efforts to take action until court case ends in June
An effort to block online gambling websites by the Canadian province of Quebec has been thwarted with the Canadian Radio-televisions and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) affirming that the Government cannot block such sites without its permission.
Bill 74, deemed as unconstitutional by consumer rights groups, sought to prevent access to unlicensed Web gambling sites through ISP blocking. The province’s gambling monopoly, Loto- Québec, to compose a list of websites it wanted Internet Service Providers (or ISPs) to block with the policy going into effect by the start of the new year.
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, which is comprised of Vidéotron, Rogers Communications Inc., Bell and Telus Corp, filed a motion with the Quebec Superior Court against Bill 74.
The provinces Attorney General suspended any steps it had planned to take until the court the CRTC suspended any further action until the end of the end of the court case in June 2017.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
