Loto-Québec sees igaming contribution grow in 2018-19

Canadian provincial lottery operator Loto-Québec has reported a 3.1% year-on-year increase in revenue to CAD$2.83bn (£1.68bn/€1.89bn/US$2.12bn) for its 2018-19 financial year, with the contribution from its igaming offering growing to $105.4m.

For the 12 months ended March 31, 2019, Loto-Québec’s gaming establishment business, comprising gaming machines in bars alongside gaming, bingo and Kinzo halls, generated revenue of $979.5m, down 0.2% from the prior year.

Loto-Québec president and chief executive Lynn Roiter attributed this to lower revenue from the network of machines in bar and restaurants, following a drive to reduce video lottery terminal (VLT) numbers across the operator’s network. Completed in December 2018, this saw the number of devices in service across the province reduced below 9,900.

The lottery business was the second-largest source of revenue, with the year’s total of $955.7m representing an 8.7% year-on-year rise. The division had a “remarkable” year, Roiter said, as a result of high jackpots offered on the Lotto Max game, and supported by growth in betting and instant win games.

Draw based game revenue rose 8.0% to $752.3m, with instant win games contributing a further $172.3m (up 12.9%). Sports betting, meanwhile, saw revenue increase 7.9% to $31.1m.

Read the full story on iGB North America.