Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux

The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) oversees the application of the regulations governing video lotteries, issues licenses to manufacturers, repairers and site operators, and registers equipment once it has been certified by the Ministry of Public Security’s Laboratory of Forensic Sciences and Forensic Pathology. Each license allows for the commercial operation of up to five video lottery terminals.

Retailers are obliged to respect a series of stringent rules in order to conserve their license. The RACJ is also exclusively responsible for drafting and assuring compliance with these rules, which stipulate that retailers and their employees are prohibited from:

• playing or prompting a customer to play;
• granting a loan, a credit or advancing money to an individual for the purposes of playing;
• allowing or accepting that a person who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, medication or another substance plays a VLT;
• allowing or accepting that a person plays on more than one terminal at a time;
• allowing or accepting that two terminals be interconnected (progressive prize);
• giving credit, cashing cheques or receiving goods or services in exchange for games played on a terminal;
• using a minor in an advertisement, except if the ad is designed to promote moderation or convey a message about excessive gambling.

For more information about the rules governing video lotteries, consult the Publications Québec Web site (reference: “Laws and Regulations” tab, “Revised Statutes and Regulations” option, and use the search function for documents with the statute number: “L-6,r.2.01”).

Reinstatement of the Moratorium on the Issuance of Video Lottery Site Operating Licenses

For a seventh consecutive year, the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux has decided to suspend the issuance of new video lottery site operating licenses. This suspension is in effect from September 10, 2008 to September 9, 2009. In the case of requests received prior to that date for which no decision was rendered by the RACJ, the moratorium is retroactive.

It is important to note that this suspension measure does not prevent the renewal of a license.

The Régie could issue a site operating license regarding an establishment for which a license is in effect inasmuch as such an issuance would not result in a grouping of sites operating VLTs, or in increasing the number, when the new license is requested:

• due to the death of a license holder by the liquidator of the estate, the legatee by particular title or heir of the license holder, or a person designated by any of these individuals;
• by a trustee, liquidator, a receiver, or an official assignee who is temporarily administering the establishment;
• due to the transfer of the establishment, its rental, or its repossession subsequent to a seizure in payment or the execution of a similar agreement;
• by a license holder when the holder reorganizes or changes the operating location with a liquor permit to which the license is attached.

The text of the decision and order can be consulted on the Régie’s Web site at www.racj.gouv.qc.ca.