Quebec Lottery Retailers Want to Sell Tickets Again

Loto-Québec encourages its lottery enthusiasts to make their lottery purchases online at the moment, as this could protect their health. Retail locations across the province currently do not offer draw-based or instant lottery tickets, but the Association of Merchant Convenience Stores and Grocers of Quebec recently drew the attention to that. Retailers’ lottery revenue represents some 25 percent of the overall revenue of its members.

Practicing social distancing is the way to go right now, as it allows people to take care of their health and avoid crowded locations. Retail locations offering lottery tickets of all kinds are often one of the hotspots attracting more people than usual, as everyone wants to lay hands on the coveted tickets ahead of the regular lottery draw.

Lottery Offerings

The Crown corporation received many warnings from Quebec retailers that seniors often make their way out of their home simply for the purchase of a lottery ticket and thus put their health at risk. Following a thorough evaluation, Loto-Québec made it clear it is about to halt the sale of lottery tickets at brick-and-mortar locations, instead encouraging people to try the online platform it has up for grabs.

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However, this decision has also had its impact on the retail locations themselves, as they have been used to a certain revenue flow powered by the lottery tickets in all their formats. It recently became clear that lottery tickets sales amounted to between 20 percent and 25 percent of the revenue generated by the members of the association closely monitoring all convenience stores and retailers in Quebec.

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At this point, the situation is developing dynamically and the Crown corporation could not pinpoint a particular date for the official reopening of all retail locations having lottery tickets in store. They have been closed ever since March 20. Loto-Québec is also uncertain when it comes to the brick-and-mortar casino venues and gaming halls across the province of Quebec.

Online Lottery Ticket Purchases

On a provincial level, a recovery plan has been discussed relating the reopening of some businesses. François Legault made it clear that the province would make an attempt to gradually reopen local businesses and kickstart the economy on May 4. Construction and manufacturing would also return to their day-to-day operation on May 11. For the time being, it remains unknown when casino venues would welcome their first patrons.

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There are some precautionary measures that should be implemented. The association confirmed that about 73 percent of the retail locations offering lottery tickets are ready to relaunch operation and Loto-Québec is aware of that prevalence. Quebec residents have experienced some issues with the response time of the online gaming platform offering lottery tickets along with casino gaming and more. Back in March, many of them reported struggle with the registration process.

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They have been redirected to online gaming after upwards of 8,500 retailers had their lottery selling terminals shut down indefinitely mid-March. The Association also highlighted that the lottery leaders of other Canadian provinces have continued in-person lottery ticket sale despite the unprecedented situation. AMDEQ CEO, Yves Servais, said that every location should make its own decision.