The lottery corporations in Manitoba and Atlantic Canada have both rebounded strongly from the harshest years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lottery revenue in Atlantic Canada increased 18%. Meanwhile, sales in Manitoba were up 17%.
In financial documents released recently, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation had sales of $1.41 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22 that ended March 31. That is the total from all gaming and the sale of liquor and cannabis in the province through the Crown corporation. The Manitoba government received $635 million from the MLL’s sales in the latest fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Lottery had sales of nearly $754 million in 2021-22. Its fiscal year also ended March 31. That’s up nearly $116 million in fiscal year 2020-21. It was the most profitable year in the Atlantic Lottery’s history.
Atlantic Lottery revenue increased 18%
Atlantic Lottery’s revenue of nearly $754 million was a strong improvement from sales of almost $638 million in 2020-21.
The record profits were attributed to “an increased focus on digital channels and a successful recovery from the impacts of the pandemic,” said AL’s annual report.
In the latest year, accounting for direct (nearly $135 million) and operating (nearly $132 million) expenses, the total net profit the governments Atlantic Canada was just over $438 million. That profit breaks down as follows:
- more than $140 million to Nova Scotia
- over $139 million to New Brunswick
- about $135 million to Newfoundland
- $23.5 million to Prince Edward Island
In addition to the profits to the provincial governments, Atlantic Lottery remitted $50 million to the provincial and federal governments in taxes and federal contributions.
Atlantic Lottery experienced record sales through its online platform alc.ca. Net profits from online sales made up 18% of total sales in FY 2021-22. In FY 2021-22, iGaming produced net revenue of $77 million. That’s up $34 million from the previous fiscal year.
AL said the iGaming increase was due in part to “increased interest in the launch of new casino games and features.”
In terms of sports betting, Proline saw sales jump 43% over the previous record set in 2020-21.
On the lottery side, AL also set a record for Lotto Max sales.
The annual report states that 92¢ of every lottery dollar goes back to Atlantic Canada. It is broken down as follows:
- 37% profit to provinces
- 37% back to winners in Atlantic Canada
- 9% to retailers in Atlantic Canada
- 6% to operations in Atlantic Canada
- 4% to operations outside of Atlantic Canada
- 4% to taxes
- 3% to salaries and benefits in Atlantic Canada
Sale up 17% at Manitoba Lottery
Manitoba’s revenue is up 17% from the previous fiscal year revenue of $1.21 billion. However, the 2020-21 total was more acutely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic when health restrictions closed casinos, bars and VLT venues.
Gaming revenue in 2021-22 was $430 million. That’s up $184 million — or 75% — from the previous year. Broken down and compared to the previous fiscal year, gaming revenue in FY 2021-22 increased by the following amounts:
- $85 million in casinos
- $89 million in VLTS
- $10 million in online gaming
Manitoba online gaming venue increased from $72.4 million in 2020-21 to $82.9 million in 2021-22.
Those numbers include sports betting. For now, the BC Lottery Corporation’s PlayNow platform is the only legal online casino and sports betting option in Manitoba.
The Manitoba government’s take from online gaming in the most recent fiscal year was $63 million.
There’s no word on if, and when, Manitoba may move to an open online gaming model to follow Ontario’s lead. But the MLL said it will soon be replacing some 960 VLTs and 300 electronic table games with new ones.
