It is no secret that Loto-Québec is always looking of improving its services to the province of Quebec and tries to stay up-to-date with trends and technology. This week, the Crown corporation shared that it is currently considering whether it would be a good addition to allow cryptocurrencies as a form of payment sometime in the future. However, there are no concrete plans yet.
Currently, the Crown agency is in a difficult spell as in January its gaming properties in the province were once again closed down. Their suspension was due to the new variant of the unprecedented situation. They are slated to reopen soon, however, the constant change in operations has taken its toll on the company’s activities and budget.
One for the Future
At a virtual presentation at the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry or QCCCI, President and CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron shared that the company is considering the introduction of cryptocurrencies payments in the future. Mr. Bergeron, however, explained that the Crown is only considering it and it does not have a particular plan in play at the moment.
The President and CEO said that the implementation of such payments is certainly on the cards for the next few years. He said that crypto is a lever, and banks and governments are becoming more and more interested in it. He also believes that the adoption of crypto in Quebec’s gaming industry will be part of a new broader way of payments in the province.
Mr. Bergeron has added that the payment experience is now part of the thinking that organizations that have to interact with customers are thinking about putting lots of effort into it. He also commented that the Crown finds it difficult to figure out how it will control the currencies as it does for the rest of the currencies.
Currently, the Crown agency’s casino properties are closed down for the third time due to the unprecedented situation. Mr. Bergeron said that the company’s second reopening was a lot smoother than the first one since they know how to proceed and react. In his words, the closures have also taken their toll on employee morale who have been laid off.
Reopening This Month
A week ago, the Crown corporation announced that due to the improvement of health indicators, casinos can now reopen once again. Casino Montreal, Casino Charlevoix and Casino Lac-Leamy, as well as the Trois-Rivières and Quebec City gaming rooms, are on schedule to restart on February 28, 2022. While Casino de Mont-Tremblant a few days later on Thursday, March 3, 2022
Prizes Still Up for Grabs
In addition to that, recently Loto-Québec reminded lottery players from the province that four million-dollar prizes are still unclaimed. The first one is a CA$2 million Quebec 49 prize from the Quebec City region, the others are CA$1 million winning from Lotto Max in Outaouais on June 22, 2021, and Extra worth CA$1 million from Eastern Townships on November 5 draw 2022, and a CA$1 million one from Montérégie from a Lotto 6/49 play.
Source: ”Loto-Quebec considering ways to allow cryptocurrency payments”, CTV News, February 22, 2022
