First, it was the deal announced last week between Loto-Québec and Australia-based Aristocrat Gaming in which Aristocrat would be distributing video lottery terminals in the Quebec market starting this summer.
Then, later in the week, International Game Technology (IGT) announced that it had signed an agreement with Loto-Québec to deliver PeakDual 27 Video Lottery Terminals (VLT) across Quebec through a multi-year, phased rollout.
In a December statement, Loto-Québec, reporting on financial results for the first half of the 2023-24 fiscal year (ending Sept. 25, 2023), said that gaming establishments generated CA$441.2 million in revenues. While the bar and restaurant industry had been hit hard in recent years, led by pandemic-related shutdowns, “video lottery terminals remain attractive to retailers. Loto-Québec continues to reflect on how this type of offering will evolve within a responsible framework.”
The IGT agreement is part of Loto-Québec’s multi-phase VLT replacement cycle.
“For decades, Loto-Québec has looked to IGT to supply quality hardware and game content to our gaming establishments network,” said Stéphane Fraser, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Gaming Establishments at Loto- Québec.
The PeakDual terminal features an ergonomic design and high-end graphics, lighting and sound. They will house a variety of games such as 7’s Wild, The Wild Life 5 Line and Big City 5’s, along with new games like 7’s Wild Gold, Cash Eruption – Temple of Fire and Samurai 888 Katsumi.
IGT provides technology solutions to 25 lotteries in the U.S., eight of the world’s largest 10 lotteries, and 16 of the world’s top 25 lotteries. IGT has 10,5000 employees.
“Winning the opportunity to deploy VLTs in Loto-Québec’s current replacement cycle speaks to the trust that the Corporation puts in IGT and to the superior quality of our products and services,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Sales, Canada, South and Central America.