Important Milestones in a Successful History

1969

• December 23: The Criminal Code of Canada is amended to permit provinces to operate lottery schemes. The Société d’exploitation des loteries et courses du Québec (Loto-Québec) becomes Canada’s first lottery corporation, and North America’s third.
  

1970
January: Maurice T. Custeau is appointed President.

• March 14: Loto-Québec holds its first draw, L’Inter Loto, a $2 passive lottery offering a jackpot of $125,000.
  
  
• The three first lotteries created were:
  
  
  • la Mini (weekly lottery for 50 cents). First draw: June 5
    
    
  • l'Inter (monthly $2 lottery)
    
    
  • la Super (quarterly $4 lottery)
    
    
• Over the course of the fiscal year ended March 31, 1971, Loto-Québec awards more than $15 million in prizes, based on sales of $51 million.
  

1971

• August 10: Loto-Perfecta is launched following the implementation of a mechanical wager-registration system. The results are determined by horse races.

1972

• The Canadian Parliament authorizes the Canada Olympic Lottery, which becomes Loto-Canada in 1976. The Federal Government thereby becomes a direct competitor of the provinces.
  

1973

• For the first time, an event sponsored by Loto-Québec appears on La Mini tickets: Les 24 heures de La Tuque.

1975

• Over a five-year period, 1,012,800 winners claimed prizes.

• Loto-Québec moves to its new offices on Berri Street in Montréal.