Loto-Québec launches legal, regulated esports betting service

The StarCraft II World Championship Series Summer Circuit Championship at DreamHack Montreal, which was held August 11 to August 14, was the first event in which bets were taken.

“With the increasing popularity of esports, there is more and more demand for opportunities to bet on this type of competition. With Mise‑o‑jeu, Loto‑Québec is filling the gap by offering a secure and honest environment for placing bets,” Louis Beaudet, director of esports and entertainment betting for Loto-Québec, said.

With the new esports category in place, Beaudet and his team will continue tracking interest in esports betting. Esports betting has been controversial in the past few months, to say the least. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive skin betting scandals have risen left and right, with some territories outright banning esports betting entirely. Loto-Québec is leading the way as a model of responsible, secure esports betting.

Additionally, Loto-Québec is looking to support to video game industry as a whole. The organization sponsored the “Indie Zone” at DreamHack Montreal, where a dozen independent Québec video game studios were able to showcase their titles.

“At Loto‑Québec, we are passionate about gaming in all its forms. There’s a natural link between our teams and local creators, communities, studios and talented developers. Video gaming is a major source of innovation and pushes the limits of creativity in a whole range of sectors, including ours,” Nathalie Rajotte, corporate director at Loto‑Québec, added.