A Crown corporation writes the rules, picks the losers and keeps the money. Quebec’s small businesses deserve better.
No hearing. No appeal. No independent review. Just a one-page notice, delivered by messenger.
Loto-Québec is removing video lottery terminals from small, independently owned establishments across Quebec and concentrating those machines in gaming venues within its own network. The same Crown corporation sets the criteria, decides who loses, carries out the removals and profits from where the machines end up.
One of those businesses is a family-run establishment on Hymus Boulevard in Dorval, licensed since 1981. On November 24, 2025, it was told its VLT agreement would end and its terminals would be removed after November 26, 2026. The notice alleges no misconduct. It expressly separates this project from removals involving retailers that broke their obligations.
“We did nothing wrong, and the notice says so.”
Nicolas Aliftiras, Director of Operations, 85370 Canada Ltd (La Source)
One Corporation, Too Many Roles
The notice was signed by Loto-Québec’s director of commercial operations and told the business to call its “commercial representative.” The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, Quebec’s independent gaming authority, isn’t named as having made, reviewed or approved anything. Aliftiras calls Loto-Québec “judge, party and beneficiary at once.”
“Loto-Québec makes the rules, applies them, decides the outcome and profits from the result.”
Standards Nobody Can Examine
The stated reason is to concentrate machines in establishments meeting “enhanced standards.” The businesses being cut aren’t told what those standards are, when they were adopted, how they were assessed or where they fell short. Either these are public-interest standards, which should be published and reviewable, or they’re commercial preferences, and the government should explain why a Crown corporation can restructure a network of private businesses with no outside oversight.
“A regulator must disclose its standards. A commercial operator doesn’t have to. Loto-Québec can’t be both.”
Small Businesses Built This Network
For decades, independent bar and restaurant owners supplied the premises, paid the rent, taxes and insurance, hired the staff and supervised the machines. Now they’re told their participation is no longer required. No negotiation. No consultation. A form letter. In 2009, owners received about $20,000 per terminal removed. In 2017, they received 22 percent of the previous year’s VLT revenue. This time, nothing. If compensation was justified then, why isn’t it now?
There Is Another Model
The open letter proposes a structural split: Loto-Québec regulates, licenses and enforces, while qualified private operators run the venues under published rules. Ontario already works this way, with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulating and private service providers running land-based casinos. In the United Kingdom, the Gambling Commission supervises operators without running any venues itself.
“The institution that profits from a decision should not be the only one judging whether it was fair.”
The Next Government Will Own This
The removals take effect after Quebec’s October 5, 2026, general election. The new government will have to answer some basic questions. Were the criteria transparent? Why is there no independent appeal? Why was compensation paid before but not now? What role did the RACJ play? The ask is reasonable: suspend the notices, publish the standards, give each business written reasons and create an independent way to challenge the decision before it becomes irreversible. If the restructuring is justified, scrutiny will only strengthen it.
“Write the rules, apply the rules, pick the losers, keep the money, close the file. That isn’t oversight. That’s exactly why oversight exists.”
85370 Canada Ltd (La Source) 2335 Hymus Blvd., Dorval, QC H9P 1J8 | Family-run and licensed since 1981 Read the full open letter to Loto-Québec, available in English and French.
