Loto-Québec Announces Reopening of Casinos

The Casino de Montréal, Casino de Charlevoix, Casino du Lac-Leamy, Salon de Jeux de Québec, and Salon de Jeux de Trois-Rivières will reopen next week as the provincial government rolls out its reopening plan. Following this initial wave, the Casino de Mont-Tremblant is set to open on Thursday, March 3. Premier François Legault announced the lifting of restrictions, stating, “We will need to learn to live with the virus. There may be a sixth wave eventually, but we will have to live with Covid-19.” Health Minister Christian Dubé indicated that vaccination passports will be mandatory for entry into casinos, and masks will be required for all staff, as well as for guests upon entry. Capacity in Québec casinos will be limited to 50%, with every adjacent slot machine unavailable for play, effectively reducing the slot availability in most locations. Operating hours will vary by establishment. Loto-Québec plans to reactivate its video lottery terminals in bars once they reopen and kinzo activities resume. The Québec government aims to remove all public health restrictions by mid-March. In comparison, the European Casino Association reported that as of January 2022, over 95% of European casinos required proof of vaccination, a negative lateral-flow test, and mandatory masks for entry.