Loto-Québec recently revealed more when it comes to its daily gaming operation across the province and everything that has taken place during the 2019/2020 fiscal year. The Annual Report was publicly disclosed, shedding more light on t gaming revenue generated. The total gaming revenue amounted to some CA$2.741 billion over the fiscal year.
Quebec is one of the provinces with a well-rounded gaming portfolio, bringing closer to people a wide variety of in-person and online gambling opportunities. Around this time every year, the Crown corporation reveals more about its daily operation and everything that has taken place in the previous fiscal year. This provides people with more information on the general direction in which the leader is headed.
Online Gaming
Mid-March, Loto-Québec became the first Crown corporation in Canada to close all four of its casino locations, along with its two gambling halls, aiming to protect Quebec people. Both casino workers and casino patrons had to abide by the rules and hit pause on in-person gambling, in order to protect their own health. This is when online gaming saw a surge in popularity.
Over the course of this summer, the Crown corporation has been gradually reopening the venues in question and working towards implementing all safety protocols approved by the province of Quebec. Lynne Roiter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Loto-Québec, pointed out that the financial report would have been similar to the last year’s one if it weren’t for the lockdown situation and the shift to online gaming which took over the spring months.
Online gaming remained one of the safest gaming offerings for people and it managed to generate gaming revenue of CA$135.9 million. This fiscal year saw the introduction of many new gaming products, such as virtual sports, as well as various instant games aiming to attract new players with their user-friendly interface. Espacejeux.com remained popular across a large portion of the fiscal year.
More Offerings
It should be taken into account that the online gaming platform Quebec players are able to enjoy is still behind British Columbia Lottery Corporation. PlayNow.com is the rival online site that has amassed some CA$179 million over the past fiscal year. In the meantime, lottery gaming remained as popular as ever, generating some CA$929.4 million over the fiscal 12 months.
This amount was reached even though this spring saw the temporary closure of retail locations selling all instant and draw-based tickets. It should also be noted that this February saw a Lotto MAX jackpot of CA$70 million make its way to a family from the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions. Casino venues and gaming halls witnessed a gaming revenue of CA$963.7 million.
The surge could be linked to the transfer of gaming halls to the Société des casinos du Québec. Video lottery terminals were also popular over the past fiscal year, with revenue reaching CA$872.6 million. This amount also included bingo halls and Kinzo halls, but it also marked a slump due to the aforementioned transfer, as well as the lockdown.
