Montreal Public Health says Loto-Québec’s plan to set up a mini casino near the Bell Centre is a bad idea that could “normalize” gambling for many people that come out to watch Habs games.

Loto-Québec wants to rent the now closed 1909 Taverne Moderne — a three-storey building on des Canadiens-de-Montréal Avenue that can be accessed from the Bell Centre — and set up 350 slot machines.

If the project went ahead, Loto-Québec would remove about 600 video lottery machines elsewhere on the island, including about 160 in the downtown area.

The mini casino is part of a partnership between the provincial gaming authority and Groupe CH, the entity that owns the Montreal Canadiens.