Loto-Québec CEO Optimistic About Growth Following Strong Year
Despite a slight dip in revenue, Loto-Québec nearly reached the $3 billion mark for the 2023-24 fiscal year, marking its second-best performance since 2006.
In its annual report, Loto-Québec revealed that after distributing $1.5 billion in winnings, the company achieved a net income of $1.5 billion. These profits were reinvested into Québec's communities through the provincial government.
From the total revenue of $2.93 billion, $1.1 billion came from the province's casinos and bingo halls. This represents a new record for this sector, even with a months-long dispute impacting operations at four casinos in 2023. Lottery operations contributed $958.8 million, while $885.5 million was generated from "gaming establishments," which include video lottery terminals in bars and restaurants, event betting, Kinzo, and network bingo.
Although Loto-Québec's net income last year was just under $1.6 billion, and total revenue was down $66.3 million year-over-year, it still ranks as the fourth-highest in the corporation's history.
Additionally, the World Lottery Association renewed Loto-Québec's Level 4 responsible gambling certification, the highest level of recognition in the industry.
"It’s been an excellent year," said President and CEO Jean-François Bergeron. "Our success can largely be attributed to better expense management. Thanks to our team's outstanding work, we met our budget targets. We diversified our offerings and managed them responsibly and efficiently, maintaining our expense-to-revenue ratio at the desired level."
Bergeron also highlighted the corporation's numerous achievements over the past year, including the announcement of a new hotel on the Casino de Montréal grounds. "This major project will cement the casino’s status as one of North America’s top entertainment destinations," he added.
Loto-Québec Sees Growth in Online Gaming Amidst Regulatory Discussions
Bergeron emphasized the continued growth of Loto-Québec’s online gaming sector, which is expanding its market share despite competition from illegal operators.
"Our market share is growing," said Bergeron. "We’ve seen growth this year of between 8 and 10%. We’re improving our offerings, adding new online games, and investing in education with responsible gambling campaigns."
As the monopoly holder for legal online gaming in Québec, Loto-Québec has recently partnered with several new companies, including Wazdan and Play’n GO.
Meanwhile, discussions about opening the market continue. Last summer, various operators formed the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), advocating for a new regulatory framework. Pointing to Ontario's early success, the QOGC argues that a well-regulated commercial gambling market could greatly benefit the province.
Supported by major sports leagues like the NBA, CFL, and MLS, the QOGC criticized the Québec government in March for not capitalizing on an open online gaming market, which they estimate could generate approximately $230 million annually for the province.


mooniverse Another state gets flooded with Play’n GO slots. Too bad the RTP is hardly ever player-friendly, with some games barely hitting 80%. Hope they reconsider giving players more control over it.


TheHoodWhisperer It's alarming to see how many young people are getting exposed to gambling through streamers. With the rise of this influence, we need more stringent regulations to protect underage viewers and ensure they aren't encouraged to gamble.


TheHunther This is such a sad story. Gambling can start as a harmless pastime but can quickly turn into an addiction that destroys lives. We need better education and support to help those struggling with it.


YellowToad This is a great step forward! Young people shouldn’t have a criminal record for a mistake, but they should still face consequences. A fine system makes much more sense.


YELLOWWOOD This is amazing news! The NFL coming to Australia is a huge win for sports fans. The MCG will be a fantastic venue—can't wait to see which team the Rams will face!


Sasuke12345678 Finally, some sensible limits! Protecting younger players with lower stake caps is a smart move, though I do wonder if high-stakes enthusiasts will simply migrate to less regulated platforms.


YellowKetch Great move by LeoVegas! Excited to see how this transition improves the sportsbook experience. Hope they bring better odds and more live betting options!
The potential for opening up the online gaming market in Québec is intriguing. Seeing how Ontario has benefited, it makes sense for Québec to explore similar opportunities. Plus, the new partnerships with Wazdan and Play’n GO show that Loto-Québec is serious about staying ahead in the game.
Great to hear that Loto-Québec is investing back into the community and focusing on responsible gambling. The growth in the online gaming sector is promising too. Looking forward to seeing how they continue to innovate and expand their offerings.
It's impressive to see Loto-Québec maintaining strong numbers despite the challenges! I'm especially excited about the new hotel at Casino de Montréal. It sounds like it's going to be a fantastic addition to the entertainment options in the city.