Crown corporation Loto-Quebec released its annual earnings for the 2025-2026 fiscal year last week, with the operator reporting a record $3.09 billion in total revenue, surpassing the $3-billion mark for the first time in its history.
Key Takeaways
- Loto-Québec’s annual revenue reached $3.09 billion during the 25-26 fiscal year, marking its highest earnings to date.
- Net income was above $1.5 billion for the fourth straight year and just shy of 2023’s total of $1.6 billion.
- The lottery also paid out a record $1.91 billion in prize payouts to winners.
Net income reached $1.53 billion, extending a four-year run in which earnings exceeded $1.5 billion. Lottery prize payouts totaled $1.91 billion during the year, the highest total in the organization’s history, creating 111 new millionaires.
Casinos and gaming halls remained the largest source of revenue by sector, generating $1.30 billion, while lottery games contributed $995.6 million and gaming establishments added $814.5 million.
The operator also reported $442 million in purchases from businesses located in Québec, while retail partner commissions totaled $324 million and spending on problem gambling prevention reached $36 million.
Among the year's big lottery wins, two ticket-holders from Monteregie and Montreal shared a $70-million Lotto Max jackpot in July, and in September, residents in the Basse-Cote-Nord region shared a $50-million Lotto Max prize.
Loto-Quebec also revealed it continued work on several expansion projects during the year, including the new gaming hall in Saguenay announced in December, as well as other casino and hospitality developments across the province.
“This excellent performance shows the strength of our organization and our ability to maintain our growth trajectory, while generating significant spin-offs for Quebec,” said president and chief executive officer at Loto-Quebec, Jean-Francois Bergeron.
Bergeron went on to say it is essential for the operator to continue strengthening its position in both Quebec sports betting and online gaming, ensuring responsible gaming measures are met and revenue benefits the people of Quebec.
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Ontario iGaming also yields positive results
Meanwhile, in neighboring Ontario, online gambling wagers rose by 19.5% year over year in April, from $7.8 billion to $9.3 billion, according to the latest figures published by iGaming Ontario.
Total non-adjusted gross gaming revenue also increased in April, rising 29.4% year over year from $313.1 million to $405.4 million.
Compared with March, total cash wagers declined by 3% in April, but gross gaming revenue increased by 5%, while the average revenue per active player account rose 3% month over month and 11.8% year over year to $321.
Ontario online casinos remained the largest segment of Ontario's regulated market, generating $314.1 million in revenue and accounting for 77% of the monthly total. Sports betting revenue reached $86 million, accounting for 21% of total revenue, while peer-to-peer poker generated $5.3 million, accounting for the remaining 1% of total market revenue.
Total online casino wagers hit $8.1 billion in April, while sports betting handle totaled $1.05 billion and peer-to-peer poker stakes amounted to $128 million.
