S-13.1, r. 3.1 - By-law respecting casino games

Updated to 27 October 2023

This document has official status.

chapter S-13.1, r. 3.1

By-law respecting casino games

Act respecting the Société des loteries du Québec

(chapter S-13.1, s. 13).

DIVISION I LOTTERY SCHEME

1. A lottery scheme operated in State casinos known by the name of “casino games” is hereby established. It consists of the following types of games: table games, Keno and slot machines.

Games belonging to one of those types may be introduced into casinos.

In this By-law, “Company” means the Société des loteries du Québec, also designated under the name of “Loto-Québec” or one of its subsidiaries whose objects relate to the operation of casino games.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 1.

2. The Company must put the rules for each game at the disposal of the public frequenting the premises where casino games are operated.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 2.

3. The minimum and maximum wagers established by the Company must be respected.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 3.

4. Wagers may be made using Canadian currency, coupons, chips or other objects, according to what is indicated in the rules of the game or on slot machines, as the case may be. No verbal wagers may be accepted.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 4.

5. No credit may be given by the Company, in any form whatsoever.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 5.

DIVISION II TABLE GAMES

6. A table game is a casino game other than a slot machine, offered by means of a gaming table and that is played with cards, dice, balls or any other object, according to what is indicated in the rules of the game.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 6.

7. The cards must be shuffled in a manner to ensure that they are dealt in an unpredictable manner. They may be shuffled manually or mechanically.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 7.

8. The outcome of a game using cards, dice, balls or other objects must rest at all times on randomness, even when the player can make choices.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 8.

9. The minimum and maximum wagers permitted by the Company at each gaming table must be indicated and respected.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 9.

10. The player is responsible for calculating the point count of his or her hand. The player must check the accuracy of the point count announced by the dealer.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 10.

11. The rules of a table game must be indicated in a document placed near the gaming table, and that place must be indicated at the table. The document must contain the conditions specific to each game and include the following information:

(1)  the maximum number of players allowed at the table, if applicable;

(2)  the possibility to play standing and the manner in which to do so;

(3)  the number, the assigned value and specifications, as the case may be, of cards, dice, balls or other objects used;

(4)  the object of the game and details on how to play;

(5)  the wagers permitted and at what time in the playing of a game each of them may be made;

(6)  the cases in which a commission is payable and, if applicable, the amount of the commission and on which wager it is payable;

(7)  the player’s options in the playing of a game;

(8)  the dealer’s strategy, if applicable;

(9)  the cases in which the bank may be held by a player and, if applicable, the manner to do so;

(10)  the applicable conditions relating to the handling of cards, dice, balls or other objects used for a game so that the outcome may be valid;

(11)  the conditions for a wager to win, lose or be considered a push;

(12)  the payout odds of the winning wagers and the manner in which they are paid.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 11.

DIVISION III KENO

12. At Keno, the winning numbers come either from a draw machine or a computer which chooses them at random.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 12.

13. The method of prize allocation and the prizes to win must be accessible to the public at each place where it is possible to play Keno.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 13.

14. The selection slip must indicate the number of numbers a player can choose per selection. The place where the Keno rules are available and the maximum amount payable per draw must also be indicated on the slip.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 14.

15. A selection can be composed of one number or several numbers, up to the maximum number indicated on the selection slip.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 15.

16. The player can make more than one selection per selection slip.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 16.

17. On the selection slip, the player must mark, for each selection the player makes, the numbers of his or her selection or if the player wants the computer to select his or her numbers; the player must also indicate the type of selection, the number of draws the player wants to participate in and the amount of the player’s wager per selection.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 17.

18. Only selections validated on the central computer will be eligible for the draw. A ticket is issued by the terminal to confirm the participation of the player’s selection in the draw.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 18.

19. The following information must be indicated on the ticket:

(1)  the player’s selection;

(2)  the amount of the wagers;

(3)  the draw for which the selection is valid;

(4)  the control number;

(5)  the total aggregate payout per draw;

(6)  the deadline for claim.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 19.

20. Every ticket for which payment by the player was not made prior to the draw is void. It is the same for any ticket that is illegible, mutilated, counterfeited, improperly cut or printed, incomplete, erroneously printed or otherwise defective unless it is possible, by the control number, to determine that the ticket is really a winning ticket. The holder of a void ticket is not entitled to a prize.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 20.

21. In case of discrepancy between the ticket and the data relating to the ticket recorded by the central computer used for the game, the latter prevails.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 21.

22. The return rate set for Keno may not be lower than 65%.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 22.

23. The holder of a valid ticket must, if it is a winning ticket, present it for payment at the location and within the time limit stipulated on the ticket. The payment is made to the holder of the valid winning ticket.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 23.

DIVISION IV SLOT MACHINES

24. A slot machine is a video lottery machine within the meaning of subparagraph a.1 of the first paragraph of section 1 of the Act respecting lotteries and amusement machines (chapter L-6), which is used in a State casino.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 24.

25. The outcome of a game on a slot machine must rest at all times on randomness even when the player can make choices.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 25.

26. The name of the game, the unit cost of a wager, the prizes to be won and their mode of allocation must be indicated on the slot machine or be available to the player, on the screen, before the beginning of the game.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 26.

27. Where the prize offered is merchandise, a description of the merchandise or the merchandise itself must be displayed near the machine in question.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 27.

28. A display board continuously indicating the amount of the progressive jackpot must be placed over the slot machines offering this type of jackpot.

For the purposes of this Division, “progressive jackpot” means a jackpot whose value increases at a pre-established rate with each wager inserted in the slot machines.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 28.

29. All slot machines supplying a progressive jackpot must require one or more wagers of the same value to play and must offer the same chances to win the progressive jackpot.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 29.

30. The return rate of each game offered by a slot machine may not be lower than 83%.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 30.

31. No player may claim a prize following a wager if the player has disrupted the normal operation of the slot machine and the amount the player wagered is not refunded.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 31.

32. A wager made on a defective slot machine does not give right to any payment. However, if the defectiveness is not attributable to the player’s action, the amount of the player’s wager will be refunded.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 32.

DIVISION V TOURNAMENT

33. The Company can offer each casino game in a tournament format.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 33.

34. In such a case, instead of paying for each wager, the participant pays an entry fee to the tournament.

In a tournament, casino games are played according to the rules established by this By-law, except with regards to the payment of wagers.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 34.

35. The rules of the tournament include the date of the event, the entry fee to be paid, its length, the rules of participation, the method of prize allocation as well as the prizes to be won and they must be accessible to the public at least one week before the start of the tournament, as well as during the tournament.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 35.

36. The gaming tables or slot machines which are used for the tournament must be identified for this purpose.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 36.

37. The return rate offered to the participants of a tournament may not be less than 30% of the total amount of the entry fees sold for the tournament.

O.C. 951-2011, s. 37.

DIVISION VI FINAL

38. This By-law replaces the By-law respecting casino games (chapter S-13.1, r. 3).

O.C. 951-2011, s. 38.

39. (Omitted).

O.C. 951-2011, s. 39.

REFERENCES

O.C. 951-2011, 2011 G.O. 2, 2641

S.Q. 2023, c. 24, s. 98