An investment of $305.7 million over 4 years
Modernizing the Casino de Montréal
will help it maintain its place among its competitors

Montréal, Monday, March 23, 2009 – Loto-Québec will invest $305.7 million over the next four years for a significant upgrade to the Casino de Montréal. Loto-Québec President and CEO Alain Cousineau announced today that once completed, this project will deliver a modernized Casino de Montréal, able to maintain its place among competitors from the North-eastern United States. Renovation work will create some 3,400 direct and indirect job years.

As Mr. Cousineau explained, this investment is initially aimed at renewing infrastructures that date back to the original Expo ’67 pavilions, work that will account for nearly one-third of the sums invested or about $100 million. The balance of the budget will go to site rehabbing and for remodelling some of the Casino areas. There will be no additional gaming offer. In essence, the goal of the work is to

• Create a central entrance and improve vertical circulation
• Refresh decor, layout and overall casino atmosphere, especially in the high rollers section
• Expand spacing around slot machines and gaming tables
• Reduce restaurant access waiting times during high traffic periods

The restaurant facilities will be concentrated on the fifth floor, reception will be centralized on the Laguna level, and the new indoor layout will provide a more fluid circulation. Service and administrative areas will also be consolidated in space created by extending underground parking. The rebuilding of the Casino de Montréal will require that work begin in the fall of 2009 and be completed before the end of 2013. During this period, Mr. Cousineau explained, the Casino will remain open, with full attention paid to mitigating any negative impact on our customers, employees and users of Île Notre-Dame and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Facing the competition

As Mr. Cousineau explained, the face of North American casino competition has profoundly changed in recent years. The number of casinos in the North-eastern United States and Canada is very high, with many having undergone recent major facelifts. “The general trend is for casinos to be upgraded every ten years, more or less. Fifteen years after it first opened, and with more than 90 million visits logged, it is time for the Casino de Montréal to follow suit,” Loto-Québec’s President and CEO added.

On this matter, Mr. Cousineau recalled that while the Casino de Montréal was successful right from its 1993 opening, a number of issues that were flagged over the years could eventually call this success into question. For that reason, a body of renovation and modernization work is required. It should be clear, he continued, that even after the Peel Street basin project was cancelled, the various building issues that were identified in the 2004-2007 Development Plan remain to be addressed. In this context, Loto Québec needed to revise its strategic positioning.

“At the heart of this plan is our desire to stand out from the competition, especially in regard to customer service, while continuing to offer a wide range of innovative games,” stressed Loto-Québec’s President and CEO. “We want to rise above our visitors’ expectations, surprise them and provide a unique environment that makes them want to come back to see us again.” When renovations have been completed, the casino will be better looking and more spacious, with restaurant services better adapted to current trends and more accessible parking.

Respect for architectural and environmental heritage

Finally, Mr. Cousineau concluded, Loto-Québec intends to foster an emphasis on our architectural and environmental heritage as well as the recreational tourism vocation of the site, while maintaining respect for the buildings that exist. All necessary environmental precautions will be taken to make any repercussions of the work on Île Notre-Dame as minor as possible.

The Société des casinos du Québec

A subsidiary of Loto-Québec, the Société des casinos du Québec (SCQ) assures the management and development of Québec’s three casinos. Results from the last fiscal year showed that casinos accounted for 20.3% of Loto-Québec’s consolidated net profits, a total of 291.5 million dollars. On its own, the Casino de Montréal declared a 532.6 million dollar turnover in 2007-2008 (excluding food services). During the renovation period, Loto-Québec estimates that an overall decline in revenue in the order of 34 million dollars over four years is possible, but after work has been completed, expected revenue should increase by 60 million dollars annually.

Investment details

Total budget: $305.7 million

• Construction and infrastructure: $279.4 M

- French Pavilion: $144.2 M
- P1-P2 parking lots/buildings: $41.4 M
- Annex: $33.3 M
- Main entrance: $16.9 M
- Site development: $15.8 M
- Mitigation measures: $13.3 M
- Québec Pavilion: $10.6 M
- Inter-pavilion connections: $3.8 M

• Equipment: $23.5 M
• Implementation costs: $2.8 M

Schedule

2009

• Remodelling main atrium
• Changes to high rollers sector and Laguna level
• Creating space for administrative and support services abutting the P1 and P2 parking lots/buildings

2009-2012

• Gaming area refit

2010-2011

• Rebuilding support services areas and a new employee lounge
• Renovation of floors 5 and 6 (new restaurant area)

2012

• Annex refit
• Transformation of performance hall into a multifunction hall (Québec Pavilion)

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Information: 

Jean-Pierre Roy
Media Relations
514 499-5151

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