The British Columbia Lottery Commission will be teaming up with Loto Quebec to create a cross-Canada poker network. Now, players on BC’s PlayNow.com and Quebec’s Espace-Jeux will be able to play against each other through regulated online poker systems.
There are eight different poker variations available on the network, including Omaha, Hold ‘Em and Stud. The platform will also be available in French and English to players in both provinces. Currently, BC and Quebec are the only provinces in Canada with government-regulated online gambling websites, and their partnership may inspire newly regulated markets to join forces in the future.
The news of this partnership comes shortly after PlayNow.com was declared secure by British Columbia’s privacy commission Elizabeth Denham. When the site launched in July 2010, the website recently came under fire for allow players to gamble with the money of others’ and access information that did not belong to them.
After months of investigation, the Lottery Commission proved to Denham that PlayNow.com is safe place to play online poker and other online casino games. This announcement is likely to have influenced the relationship between Loto Quebec and BCLC, as the BC Lottery Commission has accepted and implemented Denham’s recommendations to create a safe and secure online gaming website.
