Loto-Québec has officially announced the details of the project for a new casino in Rimouski. The construction period is estimated to be 18 months, resulting in an opening date during the summer of 2026.
This new game room will take the place of the ballroom of the Congress Center of the Hôtel Rimouski in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of the province, and its objective is to offer its visitors a modern and safe gambling experience.
In addition to casino games, the salon will offer adjacent activities such as theatre concerts and general entertainment, with the aim of promoting social interactions and responsible gaming.
A choice pumped by the city
In the last week of November 2024, the City of Rimouski adopted the second regulation project that authorized the creation of the new casino — however, this didn’t come without any criticism.
According to the regional director of public health, dr. Sylvain Leduc, the construction of a casino next to social housing projects “is not the idea of the century.”
Despite the light controversies, the municipal council chose to give the project a green light without waiting for a more thorough analysis by the Direction of Public Health regarding the possible impacts on the community.
The mayor of Rimouski, Guy Caron, justified this decision by stating that acting fast is necessary to answer to the current needs of the city and its population.
In response, Leduc expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the city did not consult him regarding the general organization of the area around the new casino in Rimouski, even affirming that he learned further details about the project through media vehicles.
Economic projections
Loto-Québec estimates that the project will generate highly significant economic revenues for the region.
Around 135 new jobs will be created, and economic calculations project that the new casino in Rimouski should contribute around 1,5 million dollars to the local community.
Jean-François Bergeron, the president and chief executive director of Loto-Québec, has underlined the fact that the public will not be composed of only residents but also visitors to the area.
The objective is to attract more tourists, congresses, and passersby, turning the city of Rimouski into a must-see travel destination all year long.
A never-before-done collaboration
This project marks a new endeavour for Loto-Québec. Contrarily to the other game rooms and casinos managed by the corporation, the new casino in Rimouski will be integrated with a hotel, which is a property of the Groupe Blouin.
This innovative configuration could possibly open the path for future collaborations between the government-operated Loto-Québec and private companies.
But while the new casino in Rimouski hasn’t opened, some questions are still left unanswered.
The precise number of slot machines and other types of games is not yet confirmed, nor is the nature of the manpower that will be used in the operation: Loto-Québec hasn’t pinpointed whether the salon’s daily activities will be managed by its own employees or those of the hotel complex.
Responsible gambling initiatives
Loto-Québec reiterated its commitment to promoting responsible gambling and safe gaming in the new casino in Rimouski.
Employees in the salon will undergo extensive training to notice risky gambling behaviour and intervene if needed. Sophisticated security measures will also be implemented to guarantee optimal surveillance.
Benoit Lefrançois, corporate vice-president of social responsibility in Loto-Québec, stated that the new casino is being designed with an exemplary structure to avoid damages connected to gambling. “We want to answer to our clients’ needs and wants while minimizing risks to the maximum,” Lefrançois affirmed during the meeting.
Direct competition: avoiding issues in the region
Beyond the public consultations, citizens from the area have already expressed their optimism as well as their worries regarding the casino’s impact on the local community.
Sara Trottier, a Rimouski resident, took the stand at the council meeting to question the proximity to social housing.
In contrast, other citizens showed much more positive outlooks regarding the situation; Pierre-Paul d’Anjou, another resident, defended the idea that the new casino in Rimouski could attract a high number of visitors to the municipality, resulting in benefits to the local hospitality industry and small businesses.
Despite the contrasting opinions, the participation of citizens in the meeting was somewhat limited but overwhelmingly positive: a dozen people were consulted, and only three presented negative opinions.
New opportunities for Rimouski
Overall, the public opinion is positive and the green light has been given for the new casino in Rimouski to open its doors in 2026.
However, one of the most controversial aspects of the construction of the new casino in Rimouski is the removal of the slot machines and video poker machines that are distributed in bars all over the region in order to avoid direct competition with the new game room.
This decision sparked strong reactions from bar owners, who see these gaming machines as a fundamental source of revenue.
Martin Larose, proprietor of a bar in the area, expressed his frustration and accused Loto-Québec of neglecting their long-term partners.
In response, Renaud Dugas, the spokesperson for LQ, promised that they would take the necessary steps and the time needed to manage the transition properly. However, the number of bars and establishments that will be affected by the removals has yet to be determined.
Other Loto-Québec officials seem convinced that the casino will contribute to the touristic attractiveness of the city and strengthen its economy. Julie Carré, city councillor of Pointe-au-Père, admitted to changing her mind due to the presentations given by the government.
Carré defended the idea that the new casino in Rimouski will help pathological players to be inserted into a safer environment when compared to bars where the players are often alone and entirely left unsupervised.
“I did have some doubts about the construction, but the presentation by Loto-Québec pleased me a lot,” Carré stated.
A responsible, ambitious and innovative perspective
Loto-Québec restated that the corporation will continue working closely with the Public Health Department to evaluate both the negative and positive impacts of construction within the local community.
Even though certain recommendations made by the board of directors may not be followed, Jean-François Bergeron insisted on the importance of this collaboration to ensure a safe, regulated, and fun gambling environment.
The project of the new casino in Rimouski is an audacious step forward for the region, with potentially substantial economic returns and a renewed engagement when it comes to social responsibility and secure gaming.
If the challenges mentioned by the local community can be overcome, it’s highly likely that the casino will become a fixture in the economic and touristic sectors of Bas-Saint-Laurent.
