Loto-Québec finally decided to withdraw its gaming hall project in downtown Montreal on Tuesday, after having taken note of a second opinion from Public Health on the subject, the day after a first unfavorable opinion.
“The conditions are not met to ensure the success of the process,” asserts the state-owned company in a press release published late Tuesday afternoon.
Without citing its content, Loto-Québec indicates that it has taken note of the opinion of the Regional Public Health Directorate before making its decision which occurs “despite the provisions allowing [la] project implementation.
The gaming hall project at the Bell Center had already been the subject of an unfavorable opinion from the Regional Public Health Department (DRSP) of Montreal, revealed by The Press Monday. Loto-Québec said it was waiting for the opinion of the National Directorate of Public Health (DNSP), the higher body, which was still being drafted on Monday, before making a decision on the fate of its project.
Neither the Ministry of Health and Social Services nor the Minister of Finance (to which Loto-Québec reports) indicated Tuesday evening what the exact conclusion of this opinion was and whether it would be made public.
A “missed appointment”
If Loto-Québec claims to “respect” the advice of Public Health, it also says it is “convinced that this is a missed appointment”. “Recognized responsible marketing practices, i.e. a varied entertainment offering promoting socialization and supervised in a safe and responsible manner, would also have been put in place,” she continues.
The games room project was to be carried out on the premises of the Taverne 1909 restaurant, a four-story building adjoining the Bell Centre. The state company wanted to install 350 slot machines from the Montreal Casino.
At the same time, Loto-Québec proposed to withdraw around 500 devices spread across the island of Montreal.
The state-owned company boasted on Tuesday that it had instead committed to the removal of “600 video lottery terminals (ALV) installed in bars located in disadvantaged areas of the island of Montreal”. “This would have resulted in the withdrawal of 20% of VLTs and a reduction of 20% of establishments with VLTs in Montreal,” she says.
Despite everything, in its unfavorable opinion made public on Monday, the DRSP of Montreal decided that the project as it was presented was likely to reach and introduce a significant number of vulnerable players to the game.
We then invited Loto-Québec “to continue the reduction in the number of VLT sites as observed since 2017 in Montreal by ceasing to grant operating permits for video lottery machines (VLTs)”. Demand for this type of “street corner” game is clearly declining, said Montreal public health director Mylène Drouin.
“Doing nothing is not a solution”
On Tuesday, Loto-Québec said it was convinced of the need to review the model of its “land offering”, “so that it better responds to current issues and needs”. “Doing nothing is not a solution,” she said in her press release. Reducing our offer without offering an alternative to meet player demand is not good either. »
The DRSP was also concerned about the “normalization” of gaming associated with the opening of a gaming lounge linked to the environment of the Montreal Canadiens, in the context of a partnership between Loto-Québec and the CH Group.
Loto-Québec also recognized on Tuesday this argument linked to its association with Groupe CH, which it describes as “a brand as well known as it is appreciated”. “Remember that the CH Group is one of the only professional teams that has not associated with illegal gambling operators. »
Loto-Québec concludes by affirming that its future “is far from relying solely on the Bell Center project.”