Loto-Québec on Friday announced the development of a new gaming hall in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. Salon de jeux de Saguenay will transform the Delta Hotel and its conference center into an entertainment destination. The estimated opening date is in about 18 months.
With a population just shy of 150,000, Saguenay is located roughly 120 miles north of Quebec City. It is a popular cruise ship port, via the Saguenay Fjord, for journeys along the St. Lawrence River.
“We’re proud to present this project in Saguenay, a vibrant region known for its warm welcome and development potential,” said Loto-Québec President and CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron in a statement. “The Salon de jeux will generate positive spin-offs for the community, notably through job creation and tourist spending, as well as through the business partnerships that will arise.”
A release stated, “The project will be a new asset that will benefit not only citizens, but also conference attendees and visitors.”
A press conference to announce the opening was attended by Jonquière Member of the National Assembly Yannick Gagnon and Saguenay Mayor Luc Boivin and regional economic and tourism leaders.
“I’m delighted that Loto-Québec chose Jonquière to build its new gaming hall, because it will contribute to the economic and tourist development of Saguenay and the region,” said Gagnon. “In addition, its activities will take place in a facility operating with the highest regulatory and safety standards.”
Salon de jeux de Saguenay is designed to be a comprehensive entertainment venue. In addition to the gaming options, visitors will be able to enjoy a lineup featuring shows and live entertainment.
“Our priority remains to offer an environment where gaming is overseen safely and responsibly, fostering low-risk gambling,” Bergeron said. “Our teams are trained to support clients and the location will benefit from state-of-the-art security systems.”
Loto-Québec stated the new development will take direction from Générale de la Santé Publique. The operator noted that there were no concerns during the construction of Québec and Trois-Rivières gaming halls.
Loto-Québec will continue to promote low-risk gambling, including reducing access to video lottery by grouping terminals in a limited number of locations.
“We enthusiastically welcome Loto-Québec to our city,” said Saguenay Mayor Boivin. “Showcasing Saguenay is one of my priorities, and with this new location, which focuses on quality offerings in a safe environment, our city will strengthen its appeal as a tourist destination and gain a valuable asset for hosting business events. We’ll continue to support Loto-Québec to ensure the project’s success and generate economic spinoffs for the region as a whole.”
“Tourisme Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean welcomes the announcement of a Loto-Québec gaming hall joining one of its members, the Delta Saguenay conference center,” said Tourisme Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean General Manager Julie Dubord. “We’re convinced that this significant investment will have a positive impact on both regional ownership of the venue and the industry as a whole, and we’re committed to actively collaborating to seize the opportunities that will arise.”