New Brunswick tables Bill 8 to enable regulated live dealer casino games

The New Brunswick government introduced legislative changes on October 27, 2026 that would create a legal framework for online casino games presented by live dealers. The proposal, tabled as an amendment to the Gaming Control Act, received its first reading in the Legislative Assembly and would give the provincial government authority to make regulations for live casino activity currently not covered by the Act. The bill remains at an early stage and has not yet become law.

What Bill 8 would do

The amendment, presented as Bill 8, adds definitions for "online casino lottery schemes" and "live casino lottery schemes" to the Gaming Control Act. Under the proposed wording, a live casino lottery scheme would cover "online casino-style games hosted, facilitated or presented by a live person." That phrase is intended to capture real-time table gaming in which players interact with human dealers through a website or mobile device.

The legislation would also permit the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, subject to government approval, to enter an agreement designating a qualifying corporate body as a provincial government agency for the operation of an online casino scheme, including live casino games. The bill does not create a general licensing system for private commercial online casino operators. New Brunswick currently identifies ALC.ca as its legal and regulated online gambling platform.

Regulatory gap and next steps

The Gaming Control Act presently lacks explicit authority to establish regulations for online live casino events. Bill 8 is drafted to address that gap by enabling the government to adopt future regulations setting operational and consumer-protection requirements for live dealer gaming. The proposed amendments also expand regulation-making powers for online casino schemes operated through a government agency.

The bill sets out only enabling provisions; it does not publish detailed regulations, set a launch date for live casino products, or fix a fee structure. Proposed changes address certain licence fees in principle, including how fees could be calculated and when payments would be required, but they do not set final fee levels. Any operational rules, commencement dates and fee schedules would be determined later by regulation if the bill proceeds through the legislative process and is proclaimed into force.

Government rationale and statements

Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin framed the changes as a consumer-protection measure. He said:

"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."

Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy said the amendments would allow the province to respond to changes in gambling products. He said:

"Modernizing the Gaming Control Act is about keeping up with how gaming is changing," said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy. "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."

Context: Atlantic Lottery Corporation and the provincial framework

The bill follows a live casino concept proposed by Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which already provides digital gambling products in New Brunswick. Atlantic Lottery has operated online gaming in the province for several years and its digital business has become an increasingly important part of gambling activity across Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Lottery provides digital instant games, iBingo and online casino products, and the corporation is jointly owned by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

New Brunswick was among the earlier Atlantic provinces to provide regulated online casino gaming through Atlantic Lottery and later expanded digital casino access into Newfoundland and Labrador. The provincial government has pointed to the growing availability of online live casino products outside the regulated system when explaining the policy move. Gauvin said: "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."

What remains unresolved

Bill 8 has not been enacted and the province has not published the regulations that would determine how live casino games could operate. The bill's commencement provisions would allow enacted sections to take effect on dates established by proclamation, while the specific rules governing live casino operations would be adopted through separate regulations. Until those regulations are published, the proposal does not include a timetable for rollout, definitive operating requirements, or final licence fees.

For background on the Act and the bill's drafting, see the Gaming Control Act and the government's October 27, 2026 bill release. The bill must continue through the Legislative Assembly's committee and reading stages before it can become law.Atlantic Lottery Corporation and the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation remain the named operators and agencies referenced in the proposal, and any private-operator model would need to align with the structure the province ultimately establishes.Gaming Control Act and ALC.ca are central to the current regulatory framework for online casino activity in New Brunswick.online casino