Société des casinos du Québec

The Société des casinos du Québec has established an organizational structure and senior management team made up of accomplished individuals with a well-defined strategic vision and in-depth knowledge of the daily realities of casino operations and the key issues and considerations related to local tourism.

The Société des casinos du Québec attributes great importance to the quality of the food service and entertainment offered at its establishments. Its employees, selected among the graduates of the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), include renowned chefs and sommeliers (wine waiters and waitresses).

View the SCQ Organization Chart [PDF Format, 14 KB, Help]

Québec's casinos quickly forged an enviable reputation throughout the international gaming industry. They are characterized most notably by their architecture, by the importance they attach to offering exceptional customer service, and by the beauty and quality of their sites.

A few figures...

• Number of jobs directly created: over 5,700
• Number of visits* per year: over 10.2 million
• Number of visits to the casinos by visitors from outside the province each year: over 2 million
• Sales for 2008-2009: $915.4 million
• Earnings for 2008-2009: nearly $296.3 million

Economic Spin-offs for Québec

In addition to paying significant dividends to the Government of Québec, the casinos generate economic spin-offs for the entire province.

The establishment of the casinos required major fixed capital expenditures. Operating the casinos involves the creation of employment, both directly and indirectly, as well as the purchase of goods and services, 82% of which have a place of business in Québec.

Finally, other economic spin-offs can be attributed directly to the casinos' presence in Québec. In fact, the diversification of their activities led to the addition of hotel and entertainment services  that have helped increase the number of clients from outside Québec and to stimulate economic development in the province.

Tourism Markets

The percentage of patrons from outside Québec is estimated at 20.9%

• The Casino de Montréal is one of the world's largest casinos. It currently welcomes 17,000 visitors per day. Le Cabaret, the casino's entertainment venue, gave 309 representations last year and sold 84,303 tickets.
• Together, the Casino de Charlevoix and Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu have become two of the most popular destinations among tourists from Québec and elsewhere.
• The Casino du Lac-Leamy – Hilton Lac-Leamy Complex is one of the region's key attractions. This resort is home to a casino, a hotel, restaurants and bars, a spa and a convention centre. Le Théâtre gave over 44 representations last year and sold over 21,300 tickets.
• The Casino de Mont-Tremblant is a welcoming, upscale establishment located in a stunning natural setting. The Casino attracts resort enthusiasts, business travellers and tourists.

When Loto-Québec was first mandated by the Government to open casinos, it was to promote economic development in the province by developing new international tourism markets, while offering new services to the local population.

In 2008-2009, Québec's casinos generated $811,1 million in gaming revenues, 16,5% of which was from clients from outside the province.

The Société des casinos provides world-class lodging, food and beverage services, and superior quality boutiques in an effort to foresee the needs and surpass the expectations of its various clienteles. Recipients of numerous international awards and honours, Resto-Casino's personnel contribute in a major way to promoting Québec as a prestigious tourist destination.

Restaurants of the Highest Distinction

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of its employees, Montréal's Nuances and Lac-Leamy's Le Baccara restaurants were awarded the coveted CAA/AAA Five Diamond rating.

Internationally acclaimed chefs, including Frédéric Bourse of Italy, Rémy Giraud of Val-de-Loire and Thierry Breton of Paris, have honoured these restaurants with their presence. In fact, epicures the world over are becoming increasingly interested in the delectable offerings of these fine establishments.

Under the direction of executive chefs Jean-Pierre Curtat at the Casino de Montréal and Denis Girard at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, the casinos' restaurants attach special importance to using seasonal products from Québec whenever possible.

The Restaurants

• Over 1,065 people work in the restaurants and bars managed by the SCQ.
• More than $46,8 million was spent acquiring supplies of all kinds.
• $14,2 million in foodstuffs were purchased for these establishments.

Québec's casinos have grown considerably over the years, and today, they welcome over 10 million visitors each year.

In December 1992, the Québec cabinet approved and authorized the construction of two government-run casinos: one on Île Notre-Dame, in Montréal, and the other at Pointe-au-Pic in the Charlevoix region.

The creation and management of these government-run casinos was entrusted to Loto-Québec, which subsequently created three subsidiaries: the Société des casinos du Québec, given the responsibility of building the casinos and overseeing their operation, Resto-Casino, which operates the restaurants and bars at the three casinos, and Casiloc, which is in charge of acquiring, building and overseeing the casino facilities.

In June 2008, Québec's Casinos decided to merge the management operations of Resto-Casino with those of the casinos themselves. The objective was twofold: to align the business plan objectives and strategies for all the establishments, and to increase the synergy and complementarity of the group's casino, food service and hotel operations.

History of the Casino de Montréal

Located in the former Expo'67 French Pavilion (Pavillon de la France), the Casino de Montréal was inaugurated on October 9, 1993. At the time, it housed 65 gaming tables and 1,200 slot machines. The casino was an instant success, with average daily visitor numbers reaching the 12,000 mark.

The casino was expanded for the first time in 1994 and again in 1996, when it took over the former Québec Pavilion.

Among the world's largest casinos, the Casino de Montréal provides five floors of gaming, each more exciting than the last, and is one of the city's star attractions.

The Casino de Montréal features:

• more than 130 gaming tables, including 15 traditional poker tables, 3,000 slot machines and 10 Texas Hold'em poker tables
• four restaurants
• a performance hall, Le Cabaret, which was inaugurated in 1996
• two elegant reception halls

Since 1997, the casino has been open day and night, and currently welcomes some 17,000 visitors a day.

In 2003, the Casino de Montréal celebrated its 10th anniversary. Have a look at our Photo Album (HTML, FLASH), a retrospective of the milestones in the casino's history.

History of the Casino de Charlevoix

Inaugurated on June 24, 1994, the Casino de Charlevoix was established in the Manoir Richelieu's former summer playhouse on the cliffs of Pointe-au-Pic, a panoramic site visited by vacationers for over a century.

The Casino de Charlevoix quickly became a veritable economic driver for the region and one of Charlevoix's biggest attractions.

In 1998, Loto-Québec teamed up with Canadian Pacific Hotels and the Solidarity Fund QFL to acquire Manoir Richelieu (now called Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu), renovate it and expand the Casino de Charlevoix. Reopening in June 1999, the complex has since become a world-class resort. The Casino de Charlevoix also became the first of Québec's casinos to be linked to a hotel.

The Casino de Charlevoix houses more than 25 gaming tables, including 5 traditional poker tables, 950 slot machines, 2 Texas Hold'em poker tables, two bars and a scenic view of the Saint Lawrence River.

History of the Casino du Lac-Leamy

The Casino du Lac-Leamy was the first of Québec's casinos to be built from the ground up. It was inaugurated on March 24, 1996.

During the 2000-2001 fiscal year, the Société des casinos du Québec launched a major $210 million expansion project with the aim of expanding the casino, building a 350-room luxury hotel (the Hilton Lac-Leamy), conference centre and performance hall. The Hilton Lac-Leamy hotel and Le Théâtre du Casino opened their doors in the fall of 2001.

The casino houses close to 70 gaming tables, including 7 traditional poker tables, more than 1,800 slot machines and 5 Texas Hold'em poker tables, as well as three restaurants, two bars and two reception halls.

History of the Casino de Mont-Tremblant

On April 13, 2008, Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister of Tourism, along with Chairman and CEO of Loto-Québec Alain Cousineau, officially announced plans for the creation of the Casino de Mont Tremblant.

Inaugurated June 24, 2009, the Casino de Mont-Tremblant is an upscale establishment located in a stunning natural setting. Thanks to the choice of natural materials, such as water, stone, wood, leather and suede in warm and intense colours, this casino is a world in itself.

The casino's three floors house a large and distinctive assortment of games, featuring 400 slot machines, 25 gaming tables with croupiers and 5 Texas Hold'em poker tables. The casino also includes a large high-rollers section, two private lounges, catering services and a 125-seat bar.

We invite you to explore the current employment opportunities with the Société des casinos du Québec, Québec's casinos and the Hilton Lac-Leamy hotel.

To view the positions currently posted on the job board, apply for a position or obtain an application form, please visit the Careers section of Loto-Québec's Web site.

Becoming a croupier at the Casino

Candidates selected to become croupiers at Québec's casinos are trained exclusively by the Société des casinos du Québec. Training sessions take place several times a year. Interested applicants are asked to contact the Human Resources departments of the casinos.

Québec Casinos are important to the economy

Québec casinos are very important economic and tourism actors in their respective regions. Whether through the economic spin-offs their operations engender, the purchase of goods and services or the jobs they create, our casinos contribute greatly to stimulating the economy. $885 million are injected into the economy each year to benefit the entire population. Click on the figures to learn more.

5,800 jobs for the local community

"As someone who was born and raised in beautiful Charlevoix, I am very proud to have worked at the Casino de Charlevoix for 11 years. I am incredibly lucky because I have so much fun working here!"

- Chantale Martel, croupier, Casino de Charlevoix.

$271 million in goods and services purchased from over 1,300 companies

"For a decade, we have collaborated with different business partners to design and manufacture uniforms for all the employees of the Casino de Montréal. We are very proud of our work, and appreciate the jobs the Casino has created locally."

- Peter Maggio, President Uniformes CFM inc., responsible for manufacturing the uniforms worn by Casino de Montréal employees.

$885 million injected into the economy each year to benefit the entire population

The spokesperson who had been chosen to communicate our campaign's first message was none other than Françoise Bertrand, Chief Executive Officer of Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec.

Read Françoise Bertrand's biography [PDF Format, 25 KB, Help]