The Société des casinos du Québec (SCQ) offers players, on a voluntary and confidential basis, the ability to be barred from Québec casinos (Montréal, Lac-Leamy, Charlevoix and Mont-Tremblant) and in Gaming halls for a specific period ranging from 3 months to 5 years. This program is confidential, free and bilingual.

Anyone can register by simply following the steps below:

• The applicant must go to the Customer Service desk at one of Québec casinos and specify that he or she would like to register for the self-exclusion program. The attendant will have a security agent lead him or her to a private room used for this purpose.
• In the applicant's presence, an investigator from the security department will complete the self-exclusion form.
• A photo will be taken once the file is opened.

Players can also arrange for self-exclusion from Quebec's casinos and gaming halls at Loto-Québec's head office in Montreal, at Loto-Québec's office in Québec City and five compulsive gambling treatment centres: Maison Jean Lapointe (Montréal), Centre CASA (Québec), Centre de réadaptation Domrémy Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec (Trois-Rivières) and the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (Ottawa).

By joining the self-exclusion program, the applicant authorizes the SCQ to exclude him or her from all Québec casinos (including the gaming areas, bars, snack bars, restaurants, performance halls and boutiques located in the casinos) for the requested period, which can range from 3 months to 5 years. Once processed, the registration cannot be reversed. The Société des casinos du Québec assumes no responsibility if the applicant violates the rules of self-exclusion to which he or she voluntarily committed.

Registration in the self-exclusion program automatically entails the cancellation of the applicant's Casino Privilèges membership. If applicable, the SCQ will pay the client in cash for any Privilèges Points already accumulated.

Registration in the self-exclusion program automatically involves the recording of the person's first and last names and mailing address in the Société des casinos du Québec database to ensure that no documents announcing upcoming activities at its gaming establishments are sent.

A Program That Has Made Its Mark

In 2010-2011, a total of 1 466 self-exclusion agreements were signed (all Loto-Québec establishments combined), bringing the number of active agreements to 3 956. Over 6 620 identifications were made by security personnel in the casinos and other gaming halls during that period.

One of the first in North America, the Québec casinos' self-exclusion program has served as a model for other Canadian and U.S. casinos.

The program has proved to be extremely effective for a good number of people, as reported in the study led by the Centre québécois d'excellence pour la prévention et le traitement du jeu, Analysis of a Casino's self-exclusion program [PDF format, 77 KB, Help], published in 2000.

An Improved Self-Exclusion Program

In the last few years, the program was enhanced in collaboration with Mise sur toi, with the addition of professional counselling services, and players who so desire may have access to these services for the duration of their self-exclusion. Upon expiry of the contract, the player will be invited to participate in an evaluation and information session so as to be able to make the best decision on this matter.

View the pamphlet "Self-Exclusion Program at Québec Casinos" for more information. [PDF Format, 220 KB, Help]

Concrete measures for the prevention of compulsive gambling are being developed and applied in every sector of activity at Loto-Québec. In addition to the self-exclusion program, here are the measures implemented in the casino sector:

• No credit, in any form, is extended to players (unlike other casinos in North America).
• No alcohol may be served or consumed in the gaming areas.
• Access is prohibited to anyone under the age of 18.
• Advertising gaming to the general public is prohibited.
• Société des casinos du Québec employees are not permitted to play in any of Quebec's casinos or gaming halls.
• To raise awareness, responsible gaming messages are posted on all slot machines. Information includes the 1 866 SOS-JEUX hotline.
• Players can consult the specialists at the Au Centre du Hasard booth found in the four casinos for information about responsible gaming and to evaluate their gaming behaviour. These booths namely help players better understand the difference between games of skill and games of chance. A lottery wheel, bean bag game, number generator and slot machine (open, so that players can look inside) are some of the tools the specialists use in their presentations.

Au 31 mars 2011

Casino	Opening date	Visitors (since opening)
Montréal	February 2006	47 256
Lac Leamy	June 2007	54 271
Charlevoix	November 2009	6 879
Mont-Tremblant	November 2010	434

• Since 1999, over 275 000 people have consulted the interactive compulsive gambling prevention columns found in the four casinos. In 2006, a brand new generation of self-evaluation terminals were placed in the four casinos and the head office. Called 8/8 The Winning Combination, the program helps players determine their gaming profile and evaluate their game habits by answering eight questions. Between April 1, 2011 and March 16, 2011, a total of 16 980 people completed the questionnaire on these terminals.
• All Société des casinos du Québec employees must complete a program on pathological gambling and how to handle clients in distress (offered continually). As of March 31, 2011, 90% of the employees had attended a first three-hour workshop and 56% had taken a 90-minute refresher course, required every three years.
• The casino's security and infirmary staff receive training on how to handle clients in distress.
• The Société offers a first-line crisis management service for players in distress, in collaboration with the Agences de la Santé et des Services sociaux of Montréal, Outaouais, Capitale nationale and Québec City, as well as four community organizations: Maison Jean Lapointe, Centre de crise 24/7, Ressources Génésis and CSSS des sommets.