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New Brunswick’s provincial government recently introduced a new bill in a bid to regulate live casino games in the province. Bill 8 seeks to amend New Brunswick’s Gaming Control Act to give the provincial government the authority to regulate online casino games featuring real-time human dealers.
“Reviewing and updating legislation is an important part of keeping New Brunswickers safe. As gaming continues to evolve, legislation must keep pace to ensure games continue to be regulated and responsible, and that rules are effective and clear,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin.
Details about Bill 8
Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin and Finance and Treasury Board Minister Rene Legacy introduced Bill 8 to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly on October 27, 2026. The bill seeks to amend the Gaming Control Act to establish a regulatory authority specifically for live casino games. Notably, the government currently lacks the formal authority to set the rules for live games under the existing legislation.
Bill 8 formally introduces legal terms for “live lottery casino schemes,” which it describes as “interactive, real-time gaming platforms where online table games are hosted, presented, or facilitated by a live person interacting with players via mobile or web devices.”
Moreover, the bill also updates definitions regarding how the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation manages online casino systems. It gives the corporation authority to appoint a qualified corporate entity to operate the live casino lottery schemes, subject to cabinet approval.
“These updates will ensure that new gaming options are developed responsibly and continue to meet the needs of players in a safe and regulated way,” Legacy said.
Bill 8 responds to the Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s (ALC) digital growth strategy. Notably, ALC is the sole locally regulated and legal online gambling platform in New Brunswick. It offers a variety of casino games, including online slots, instant games, and bingo. However, local legislative restrictions prevent it from offering live-dealer casino games.
“With a greater variety of online offerings, live casinos are growing in popularity. Regulating these types of games will provide a safer alternative to unregulated offerings in the province,” Gauvin said.
Notably, the ALC also provides lottery services to four other provinces, including Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Notably, considering that the proposal came from the operator, the same may happen in these other provinces.
Losing money to unregulated operators
Ontario and Alberta are the only two Canadian provinces that regulate private operators in their online casino and sports betting markets. Private operators have been active in Ontario since 2022, while Alberta launched its market in July 2026.
Interestingly, adverts by private operators in these two provinces also reach residents across other provinces, including New Brunswick, especially via national broadcasts. While the private operators cannot legally operate in New Brunswick, that doesn’t stop residents from searching for the brands. The brands often redirect New Brunswick residents to their international sites. Notably, gambling on offshore platforms is not exactly a crime here.
As a result, New Brunswick is losing gaming revenue to offshore platforms, and the ALC puts the figure at around C$250 million per year. Moreover, government documents show that provincial lottery revenue has dropped by C$8 million over the past two years. “The growth of illegal online gambling has fundamentally changed the competitive landscape,” said Atlantic Lottery spokesperson Greg Weston.
Considerations to open the door for private operators
Notably, news of the regulation of live casino games comes just one week after government officials said that they are considering whether to bring private operators into the online gambling market. To this end, Finance and Treasury Board spokesperson David Kelly said that the province is trying to learn from other markets to “maintain a safe, responsible, and appropriately regulated gaming environment for New Brunswickers.” However, it is worth noting that there is no official decision, timeline, or framework to open the market.
