Canada

Exceptional Results for Loto-Québec

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2023

End of the third quarter of fiscal 2022–2023

Loto-Québec posted total revenues of $2.225 billion and a consolidated net income of $1.204 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2022/2023.

It is its best performance since the Tobacco Control Act came into force, significantly impacting traffic at gaming establishments. These represent increases of $521.9 million (+30.7%) and $295.8 million (+32.6%), respectively, over the same period last year. Increases over the three first quarters of the pre-pandemic fiscal year (2019/2020) amount to 5.8% for revenues and 11.3% for net income.

Sound management efforts continued across all sectors, which resulted in an excellent ratio of total expenses to revenues of 28.2%, compared to 30.9% over the same period in fiscal 2019/2020.

“Our teams’ sustained efforts led us to these exceptional results and to our best performance in 17 years. All indications are that we will be able to pay a higher dividend than expected to the government and that benefits all Quebecers. I’m very proud of our work,” the President and CEO of Loto-Québec, Jean-François Bergeron, says.

“Thank you to our teams for incessantly improving our on-site and online entertainment offer, providing our customers with a quality experience and magical moments. The excitement our renewed programming and offer created is palpable at our casinos and gaming halls. Many acts of generosity highlighted this quarter, including our participation in the government of Québec’s Entraide campaign. We also supported other causes with our Détaillants de Cœur initiative and remained committed to the fight against food insecurity by organizing, among other things, activities benefiting the Moisson organizations.”

Results by sector for the period between April 1 and December 26, 2022:

Lottery
Lottery revenues amounted to $742.2million, which is a $2.6M (+0.4%) increase over the same period in 2021/2022. Lotto Max performed well. It paid more grand prizes of $50 million or more and more Maxmillions than during the same period in 2021/2022. Online lottery sales revenues represent 13.0% of the sector’s total revenues, compared to 3.7% for the same period in 2019/2020.

Casinos and gaming halls
Casino and gaming hall revenues stand at $829.3 million for a $313.9M (+60.9%) increase over the same period in 2021/2022 and a $69.0 million (+9.1%) increase over the same period in 2019/2020. The increase over last year can be explained in part by gaming location closures in 2021, whereas operations have returned to normal since the current fiscal year began. Online casino sales revenues represent 24.3% of the sector’s total revenues, compared to 9.1% for the same period of the pre-pandemic fiscal year.

Gaming establishments
Gaming establishment revenues amounted to $686.5 million, which is a $214.5M (+45.4%) increase over the same period in 2021/2022. Revenues from video lottery terminals remain similar to their pre-pandemic levels. The increase can be explained by the same factor as for casinos and gaming halls: establishment closures in 2021.

Quarterly highlights and CSR contributions for the period between September 27 and December 26, 2022:

Loto-Québec paid $397.1 million to lottery, network bingo and Kinzo winners over the quarter, totalling $1.103 billion since April 1. There were 32 new millionaires during the quarter, for a total of 69 since the beginning of the fiscal year.

Another phase of the 100% Legal campaign was rolled out. This time, its message focused on the local aspect: 100% of the amounts played on LotoQuebec.com remain in Québec and benefit the entire population.

New sportsbooks were set up, to the delight of sports fans. The first one was at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in November and the second at the Salon de Jeux de Trois-Rivières in January, shortly after the end of the quarter.

The 40 Célébration attendees were able to enjoy the gala in person this year at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy. Sébastien Benoit, Gregory Charles and Véronic DiCaire hosted the event, which wowed not only attendees, but also all 1,290,000 viewers.

The corporation signed a new agreement with Gestev to handle programming at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy. Just as it has been doing at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal for the last year, this major event producer now offers a varied line-up of performances to the public of the National Capital Region as well.

The third edition of the campaign inviting players to manage their gaming took place in October, focusing on the importance of setting limits. It aimed at encouraging players on LotoQuebec.com to voluntarily set time and loss limits.

Loto-Québec supports several causes and non-profit organizations. Such initiatives, now under the Giving Back is a Win-Win program, made it possible for causes dear to Quebecers to receive over $1 million this fall.

Three of our establishments renewed their BOMA BEST certification this quarter, which recognizes excellence in energy and environmental management and performance in commercial real estate. The Casino du Lac-Leamy received the top certification level: Platinum.

Loto-Québec is committed to highlighting the creative and innovative spirit in the field of gaming and entertainment and, more broadly, of innovation by supporting the next generation. The corporation attended the MEGAMIGS festival and HUB Montréal, in addition to awarding several grants.

Canada

Play’n GO announces partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

play’n-go-announces-partnership-with-canadian-operator-loto-quebec

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec, launching the Swedish gaming giant’s games into another Canadian province.

Already active in another Canadian province , this partnership sees Play’n GO’s content available in the province of Québec exclusively with Loto-Québec, a state-owned corporation, where online players now have access to titles such as Tome of Madness.

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer, Play’n GO said: “At Play’n GO, we have always been clear in our vision to be active in every regulated market in the world, and this partnership with Loto-Québec is the next step on that journey.

“Our past success in Canada gives us confidence that players in Québec will enjoy the best Play’n GO content, and we look forward to many years of success with Loto-Québec in the province.”

Stéphane Martel, Head of Product and Innovation at Loto-Québec added: “As the sole iGaming operator in Québec, we pride ourselves on offering titles that truly add value to our platform, lotoquebec.com. We are happy to bring Play’n GO games to our players.”

Canada

Court Decision Upholds iGaming Ontario’s Model

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

court-decision-upholds-igaming-ontario’s-model

iGaming Ontario has welcomed the decision of the Ontario Superior Court, which found that iGaming Ontario’s model is consistent with the Criminal Code and that iGaming Ontario is conducting and managing igaming in the province.

“We have always been confident in our model and are pleased that the court has ruled in our favour, and that Ontarians can continue to play with confidence in our regulated igaming market,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.

“Ontario’s model meets the requirements and contributes to the public good by protecting players, their data and their funds, while helping to fund priority public services in Ontario, and bringing well-paid, high-tech jobs and economic development to Ontario,” Otton added.

In dismissing the application brought forward by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), the Superior Court found that iGaming Ontario is the “operating mind” behind Ontario’s competitive igaming market in accordance with the conduct and manage requirements of the Criminal Code.

iGaming Ontario will continue to conduct and manage igaming as it has since the launch of the regulated market on April 4, 2022.

Bragg Gaming Group

Bragg Gaming Appoints Renowned iGaming Executive Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

bragg-gaming-appoints-renowned-igaming-executive-neill-whyte-as-chief-commercial-officer

Bragg Gaming Group, a global iGaming technology and content provider, announced that Neill Whyte has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective 1st May 2024, establishing a new global commercial structure at the Company and bolstering its leadership team.

Whyte brings over 18 years of experience in the iGaming sector, most recently in the role of Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Gaming Corporation’s (DGC), B2B iGaming Division. After joining DGC in early 2020, he was responsible for the commercially successful launch and growth of its content distribution business in the US.

Prior to joining DGC, Whyte held multiple positions in the gaming industry including as Head of Business Development at Isle of Man-based iGaming specialist Apricot Investments, as Board Member at Swedish iGaming product and Lottery content distributor Genera Networks, and in various senior roles over eleven years at leading iGaming content supplier Microgaming, including as Head of Product Channels.

In his new role with Bragg, Whyte will be tasked with leading the Company’s global commercial teams to drive growth across all of the Company’s product verticals which include proprietary online casino content from its Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic and Wild Streak Gaming studios, exclusive content from content partners, HUB a leading casino content aggregation platform, Fuze player engagement, as well as its award-winning player account management (PAM) platform and turnkey solutions.

Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg, said: “I am very pleased to be announcing today the appointment of Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg. His iGaming product and market knowledge, together with his record in driving growth from developing successful and mutually beneficial commercial partnerships are exceptional.

“As we leverage our broad content and product portfolio to grow in existing and new markets, including in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe, Neill’s unique combination of knowledge, skills and experience in this sector are a perfect fit for our ambitions at Bragg.”

Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg, said: “It’s an honor to join Matevž and the wider teams at Bragg already in place across North America, Europe and in India. I have been impressed with the depth and quality of the content, product and technology offerings at Bragg, and its ability to rapidly adapt, certify and deploy this content and technology in newly regulated markets is a distinct advantage.

“We also have a huge opportunity to grow our footprint with our existing customers in markets in which we are already established. Our content and product roadmaps are second to none, and I’m planning to get on the road in the coming weeks and months to meet the team and our customers and to start building for the next stage of mutual growth. I can’t wait to get going.”