Quebec’s controversial legislation to block unauthorized online gambling sites has become law, setting up a looming legal fight between the provincial government, their federal counterparts and local internet service providers (ISP).

On May 17, the Quebec legislature approved Bill 74, the omnibus legislation which includes language authorizing the ministry of finance to order ISPs to IP-block online gambling sites other than EspaceJeux, the site run by provincial gambling monopoly Loto-Quebec.

Bill 74’s provisions took effect on May 18, putting Loto-Quebec on the clock for drawing up the list of offending sites. Should ISPs balk at enforcing this blacklist – at the ISPs’ expense – within 30 days of its receipt, the law allows for fines of up to $100k per incident.

The controversial plans were announced over a year ago and immediately drew fire from internet watchdogs and ISPs, who noted that censorship of this type had no precedent in Canada, while pointing out that telecommunications issues fall under federal jurisdiction, not provincial.