Proposed legislation will update the Canadian province’s gaming laws and enable the Atlantic Lottery to enter the live casino space
The New Brunswick Government has introduced new legislation to authorize and regulate live casino gaming in the Canadian province.
Following a proposal from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, a bill has been introduced in the legislative assembly to modernize the Gaming Control Act and allow the government to adapt more quickly to evolving gaming activities.
The proposed legislation would establish regulation-making authority for live casino gaming that take place online.
“Reviewing and updating legislation is an important part of keeping New Brunswickers safe,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. “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.
“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.”
Current legislation does not give the provincial government authority to establish regulations for live casino games, which the Atlantic Lottery wants to offer.
“Modernizing the Gaming Control Act is about keeping up with how gaming is changing,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy, who sponsored the bill. “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.”
The bill had its first reading on Tuesday, with regulations for live casino to be introduced at a later date.
The Atlantic Lottery is jointly owned by the four Atlantic provincial governments – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – and is headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick.