Casinos, VLTs drive gains in Quebec
August 19, 2009
No Comments
The 2008-09 financial year saw Loto-Québec hold its own amid the challenges of the current economic downturn
The popularity of video lottery continued unabated in 2008-09. Despite a 36 percent decrease in the number of bars and brassieres offering VLTs, as mandated by the company’s 2004-2007 development plan, revenues increased 1.4 percent to C$1.06 billion. (Figure 1) The current VLT network consists of 10,735 terminals at 2,321 locations.
Figure 2
LOTTERY STILL KING
Lotteries still contribute the lion’s share of Loto-Québec annual revenues (Figure 2), thanks to the popularity of online play, which generated 63 percent of total sales of C$1.90 billion in 2008-09. Online sales increased $9.8 million (0.8 percent) during the year. Overall sales, however, declined 0.4 percent, a further sign of the maturation of the traditional draw and instant ticket markets, where sales declined 10.2 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.The popularity of video lottery continued unabated in 2008-09. Despite a 36 percent decrease in the number of bars and brassieres offering VLTs, as mandated by the company’s 2004-2007 development plan, revenues increased 1.4 percent to C$1.06 billion. (Figure 1) The current VLT network consists of 10,735 terminals at 2,321 locations.
Figure 1
TOUGH TIMES FOR BINGO
Traditional bingo as a funding tool for non-profit organizations continued its steady decline in 2008-09, a situation mirrored throughout Canada, as attendance falls (4 percent a year since 1997), the game’s clientele ages, and consumers abandon the game to pursue other forms of entertainment. A national smoking ban imposed in 2006 has served to further discourage loyal players. Revenues in Quebec declined 13.8 percent in 2008-09 to C$35.4 million.Figure 3
