Canada
Loto-Québec announces the dates and conditions for the reopening of its gaming establishments, as well as the cost-saving measures affecting its operations and personnel
Loto-Québec will gradually reopen its establishments according to the following schedule, with operations adjusted to comply with physical distancing and hygiene standards:
- Hilton Lac-Leamy: July 13
- Casino de Charlevoix, Casino de Mont-Tremblant, Québec and Trois-Rivières gaming halls: July 16
- Casino du Lac Leamy: July 23
- Casino de Montréal: August 3
- VLT and Kinzo network: July 7
- Network bingo: July 3
As establishments reopen, the Corporation’s top priority will be to ensure that operations resume in such a way as to allow employees and customers to stay safe while enjoying a fun environment.
Rigorous safety measures, modified opening hours and an online reservation system
When Loto-Québec’s establishments reopen, customers will notice the following important changes to operations and on gaming floors, including:
- New online reservation system for customers
- Casino sectors will be limited to a maximum of 250 customers at a time
- Québec City gaming hall(250 customers)
- Trois-Rivières gaming hall(250 customers)
- Casino de Charlevoix(250 customers)
- Casino de Mont-Tremblant(250 customers)
- Casino du Lac-Leamy(4 sectors with 250 customers = 1,000)
- Casino de Montréal(6 sectors with 250 customers = 1,500)
- Complete disinfection of each establishment every day and cleaning of gaming machines between customers
- All employees on gaming floors required to wear procedural mask and, when required under CNESST standards, eye protection
- Customers required to wear a mask or face covering
- Directional signage people must follow to get from one location to another and two-metre physical distancing signage
- Reconfiguration of gaming floors:
- Slot machine activation that ensures physical distancing
- Reduced number of players at gaming tables and installation of protective panels between the dealer and players
- Availability of rubber-tipped stylets to avoid touching slot machines
- No handling of cards or chips by the customer
- Bars and show halls to remain closed for the time being
- Snack food service only
- New opening hours:
| Casino de Mont-Tremblant and Casino de Charlevoix | Casino du Lac-Leamy and Casino de Montréal | Québec City and Trois-Rivières gaming halls |
| Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight
Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to midnight |
Every day: 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. | Monday to Wednesday:
10 a.m. to midnight Thursday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. |
All information on the reopening and applicable measures is available at https://casinos.lotoquebec.com/en/portal/establishments.
Savings measures affecting operations and personnel
Since the COVID-19 crisis has been affecting Loto-Québec’s commercial operations for over three months already and despite the announcement of the upcoming gradual reopening, the Corporation is forced to apply savings measures to its operations and all personnel. The decision was made in order to align staffing needs with the level of activities.
Indeed, casinos, gaming halls, video lottery terminals (VLTs) and Kinzo halls have been closed since March, and in-store lottery sales were suspended for six weeks, all of which resulted in a significant reduction in the Corporation’s activities and revenues. Loto-Québec must therefore revise operations to meet the pace at which commercial activities resume.
In an effort to maintain employment and expertise, the Corporation will implement measures that affect management personnel and employees as well as operating and capital budgets in corporate and business sectors. The measures to be implemented are as follows:
- Significant reduction in operating and capital budgets in all corporate and business sectors for 2020-2021
- Temporary layoffs in various sectors (particularly 2,250 operations employees in casinos and gaming halls)
- Cancellation of supernumerary employee contracts
- Salary freeze and cancellation of all bonuses for management personnel for 2020-2021
- Hiring freeze
- Temporary reduction of the work week
Meetings with management personnel, union representatives and employees from all sectors were held yesterday and today to inform them of the decisions, explain the situation and address concerns.
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Alex Cuoci
Wealthsimple and Kalshi Partner to Bring Prediction Markets to Canada
Wealthsimple announced the release of Wealthsimple Predict, providing retail investors the ability to trade event contracts on Kalshi. The standalone application is scheduled to launch this summer. Through the app, users will have access to approximately 4000 Kalshi event-based contracts in categories Wealthsimple is authorized to offer in the Canadian market, specifically climate, financial markets, and economic indicators.
“Prediction markets are the fastest-growing segment of global financial markets, letting traders turn an opinion into a position on the factors that shape our world – where inflation is headed, what happens to rates, or how the year unfolds. Until now, Canadians have had limited access. Wealthsimple Predict gives Canadians a clean, well-designed way to access these markets, with education and guardrails built in from day one,” said Brett Huneycutt, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Wealthsimple.
“Kalshi was founded on a simple belief: views on the future should have markets, and those markets should be available to everyone. That’s why we’re partnering with Wealthsimple, Canada’s leading financial innovator – to give everyday investors in Canada access to fair, secure, and regulated prediction markets,” said Alex Cuoci, Kalshi.
In March, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) authorized Wealthsimple to offer event and forecast contract trading, also known as prediction markets. These contracts are regulated as futures contracts (derivatives). The approval covers contracts with a 30-day settlement period or longer, within the categories of economic indicators, financial markets, and climate. Wealthsimple is the second investment dealer to receive regulatory approval from CIRO for prediction markets.
To access trading through Wealthsimple Predict, new clients must complete a standard Know Your Client (KYC) process. Education is built into every stage of the experience, including a guided orientation of a client’s first trade. The app also shows users key disclosures and definitions, including trading risk reminders, contract resolution information, notices that positions can be sold at any time, and liquidity risk warnings on lower-activity markets. Wealthsimple Predict will only be available to Canadian residents.
Kalshi is authorized to operate in the US as an event contracts exchange, with federal authority from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory authority for the U.S. derivatives market. Prediction markets follow the same regulatory framework applied to other financial assets traded in the US, such as equities, bonds, and traditional derivatives, with clear rules for price formation, settlement, and governance.
The post Wealthsimple and Kalshi Partner to Bring Prediction Markets to Canada appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Alberta
MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch
MediaTroopers said it is preparing to launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market on July 13, as Canada’s next regulated commercial gaming market opens.
The digital marketing and customer acquisition firm said it plans to enter Alberta alongside eight “premium operator” clients, which it said are also preparing for their own market entries. MediaTroopers did not name the operators.
The company said its Alberta offering will mirror its work in Ontario, including localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance campaigns.
MediaTroopers also said it has seen “strong interest” from Alberta players through pre-registration activity, without providing figures.
“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”
The post MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
MediaTroopers Makes Preparations for Upcoming Alberta Launch with Eight Premium Operator Partners
MediaTroopers, the leading digital marketing and customer acquisition firm, has announced that preparations are underway for its upcoming launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market, scheduled to go live on July 13. As part of those preparations, MediaTroopers will enter the province with eight of its premium operator clients, who are already preparing for their own entries.
With the launch of Canada’s second regulated commercial gaming market, Alberta has quickly become one of the most anticipated market opportunities for operators looking to expand. MediaTroopers has already cemented itself as a reliable partner in Ontario’s regulated market, supporting operators in one of North America’s most competitive markets, and it will bring that same expertise as it enters Alberta.
Much like Ontario, MediaTroopers will continue to support operators in Alberta with localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance-driven campaigns.
MediaTroopers has already seen strong interest from Alberta players through pre-registration activity. With eight of its premium clients also preparing to go live, the company expects to play a pivotal role in helping other licensed operators to build up brand visibility and recognition among players in the region from day one.
With its launch in Alberta, MediaTroopers remains committed to supporting sustainable, responsible, and compliant growth across Canada’s regulated market.
“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”
The post MediaTroopers Makes Preparations for Upcoming Alberta Launch with Eight Premium Operator Partners appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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