Officials for Loto-Quebec and the Montreal Canadiens are in talks regarding installing what is being called a “mini casino” at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Bell Centre is where the NHL team plays its home games.
The plan calls for the Taverne Moderne restaurant, which is part of the Bell Centre, to have hundreds of video gaming machines, sports betting kiosks, and poker tables.
Loto-Québec CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron went on a Canadian radio show last week and confirmed the rumors. He said the negotiations have been ongoing for several months.
“We’re not quite ready [to make an announcement], but yes, we’re in discussions,” Bergeron said in the radio interview. “Ideally, it would be done by now.”
The plan is by no means a slam dunk. The last project Loto-Quebec had was a $1.1 billion casino for a Montreal suburb that faced tenacious opposition from community groups and residents.
Members of Montreal’s government have also expressed concerns. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plant expressed skepticism that the project is feasible, but did not say he completely opposed it.
One point Plant stressed was receiving approval from Public Health Montreal. Getting their blessing would be vital for any project. They partially doomed the casino project in Griffintown when they expressed concerns about the proposed casino’s impact on the town and the citizens.
“I share the opinion of Public Health on this subject, meaning there has to be social acceptability,” Plant said. “That’s paramount.”
One concern is the operating hours. The proposal calls for it to be open daily from noon to 3 a.m.
The target audience is those attending events at the Bell Centre. He also said others could patronize the casino through a separate street entrance.
Finance Minister Eric Girard has been monitoring the deal and said two conditions would have to be met. The first is to have public health give their input and that there be a reduction of video lottery terminals in the area. Bergeron did not answer any of those concerns.
