Why Do Canadian Contests Exclude Quebec? What Changed in 2023

For years, Canadian contest rules commonly began with a frustrating phrase: “Open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.”

Quebec residents were not excluded because Canadian law prohibited them from entering. The main reason was that Quebec imposed an additional provincial compliance system on many publicity contests. National sponsors could include Quebec, but doing so could mean extra filings, documentation, security requirements, and administrative work.

That special regime was revoked on October 27, 2023. However, that does not mean every Canadian contest must now include Quebec—or that all Quebec-specific compliance considerations disappeared.

Here is what actually changed and what Quebec contest entrants should check today.

Why was Quebec excluded from so many contests?

Quebec formerly regulated publicity contests through the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, commonly called the RACJ.

Depending on the promotion and prize value, the former regime could require a contest organizer to file documents with the RACJ. The now-revoked rules included requirements involving:

• Filing contest rules and certain advertising materials
• Making specified information available in the official rules
• Providing security in some circumstances
• Reporting information after winners were selected
• Keeping entry records and supporting documents
• Notifying the regulator about certain contest changes or cancellations

These requirements were layered on top of the federal laws that applied elsewhere in Canada. For a business planning one nationwide giveaway, excluding Quebec could therefore be simpler and less expensive than completing a separate provincial process.

The official archived Rules respecting publicity contests show both the former requirements and their current status. The document is marked as revoked effective October 27, 2023.

What changed on October 27, 2023?

Quebec revoked its dedicated publicity-contest rules and ended the RACJ regime that had applied specifically to these promotions.

For contests launched after the change, organizers no longer have to use that former registration and oversight system merely because Quebec residents are eligible.

This removed a major reason for writing “excluding Quebec” into national contest templates. It also made it easier for a sponsor to run one promotion across Canada without completing the old Quebec-specific contest filings.

The change is important, but its scope should not be overstated:

• It did not require sponsors to open every contest to Quebec.
• It did not repeal federal laws governing promotional contests.
• It did not repeal Quebec’s Charter of the French Language.
• It did not prevent a sponsor from choosing its own geographic eligibility limits.

In other words, the old RACJ publicity-contest regime is gone, but other legal and business considerations remain.

Why do some contests still exclude Quebec?

There is no single answer that applies to every promotion. A sponsor may still exclude Quebec for one or more of the following reasons.

French-language compliance

Quebec’s Charter of the French Language is separate from the former publicity-contest regime.

Section 58 states that commercial advertising must be in French. Advertising may also appear in another language when French is markedly predominant, subject to exceptions and regulations. Other provisions may affect contracts, standard-form documents, customer communications, and the way a promotion is presented.

The exact obligations depend on the promotion and how it is offered. Sponsors may need French advertising, rules, entry materials, or other documents, as well as a legal review of the complete campaign.

You can read the current wording in the official Charter of the French Language.

Old templates and cautious legal policies

Some organizations may still be using eligibility language created before October 2023. Others may know that the RACJ regime was revoked but retain the exclusion while their legal or marketing teams update internal policies.

It is reasonable to suspect that old templates contribute to some exclusions, but entrants normally cannot know a sponsor’s internal reason unless the sponsor explains it.

Administrative and promotional choices

A business may decide that translating, reviewing, and supporting a campaign in Quebec is not worthwhile for a particular prize or audience. A contest may also be connected to products, stores, events, broadcast markets, or services that are unavailable in the province.

Contest sponsors are generally allowed to define a promotion’s geographic eligibility, provided they comply with the laws that apply and disclose the restriction properly.

What federal contest rules still apply?

The Competition Act applies to promotional contests across Canada, including Quebec.

The Competition Bureau’s guidance on section 74.06 explains that organizers must provide adequate and fair disclosure of information including:

• The number and approximate value of prizes
• The region or regions to which prizes relate
• Important known facts that materially affect the chances of winning

It also addresses timely prize distribution and the selection of participants or distribution of prizes on the basis of skill or randomness.

The Competition Bureau recommends presenting required information in a reasonably conspicuous way before a potential entrant is inconvenienced or committed to the promotion. Read the Bureau’s complete Promotional Contests Enforcement Guidelines.

The Criminal Code can also affect how contests are structured. The Competition Bureau’s guidance notes the restrictions involving games of chance in which a participant pays money or provides other valuable consideration. That is why many Canadian promotions provide a no-purchase entry method and require a potential winner to answer a skill-testing question.

The details can be legally complex. ContestLog provides general information for entrants, not legal advice for businesses designing a promotion.

What does this mean for Quebec entrants?

The 2023 change removed a meaningful barrier, so sponsors have fewer contest-specific administrative reasons to exclude Quebec than they did previously. That creates the possibility of more national promotions including the province.

However, you should not assume that Quebec is eligible merely because the old regime ended. Always read the current official rules.

Check the following sections before entering:

Geographic eligibility

Look for an explicit reference to Quebec or wording such as “legal residents of Canada.” If the rules say “excluding Quebec,” the province is not eligible for that promotion even if the sponsor could legally have included it.

Language and entry page

A legitimate Quebec-inclusive promotion may offer French and English versions of its advertising, entry materials, or rules. Use the current version provided by the sponsor.

Age requirement

The age of majority is 18 in Quebec, but a sponsor can establish a higher minimum age when appropriate for the prize or product. Follow the age stated in the rules.

Regional prize allocation

Some national contests allocate particular prizes to Quebec or divide prizes among Canadian regions. Federal guidance says regional allocations should be clearly disclosed.

Winner requirements

Check how potential winners are contacted, how quickly they must respond, whether identification is required, and whether they must answer a skill-testing question or sign a release.

Can you enter if the advertisement and rules conflict?

Do not rely on a social-media caption, banner, or directory summary when it conflicts with the official rules.

If an advertisement says “Canada-wide” but the eligibility section excludes Quebec, treat Quebec as excluded unless the sponsor publishes a correction. If the wording is unclear, contact the sponsor or contest administrator before investing time or providing personal information.

ContestLog checks listings for geographic eligibility, but sponsors can amend, cancel, or clarify their promotions. The sponsor’s current official rules remain the controlling source.

Find contests open to Quebec residents

ContestLog maintains a dedicated Quebec contest directory so entrants can focus on promotions listed as open to their province. You can save daily, weekly, and single-entry opportunities to the free contest tracker.

For nationwide promotions, also browse the Canadian contest directory and confirm Quebec eligibility in each contest’s official rules.

The bottom line

Quebec used to operate a special publicity-contest regime that added filings and other requirements for many sponsors. That regime was revoked effective October 27, 2023, removing one of the biggest historical reasons national giveaways excluded the province.

But “the old Quebec contest rules were revoked” is not the same as “no Quebec rules remain.” Federal promotional-contest law still applies, Quebec’s French-language requirements still matter, and sponsors can still set geographic restrictions.

For entrants, the practical advice is simple: do not assume Quebec is excluded based on the province’s old reputation, but do not assume it is included either. Check the current official rules every time.

Official sources

• Quebec Rules respecting publicity contests—revoked October 27, 2023
• Quebec Charter of the French Language
• Competition Bureau Promotional Contests Enforcement Guidelines

Last reviewed: July 2026. This article provides general information for contest entrants and is not legal advice.