Société des bingos du Québec (Network bingo)

The Société des bingos du Québec (SBQ) is a fully-owned subsidiary of Loto-Québec. It began commercial operations in 1997 with a mandate to design and market network bingo and the game Kinzo in the network of Kinzo express halls.

SBQ's objective is to breathe new life into Québec's bingo industry in order to generate revenues for non-profit organizations (NPOs) who choose to use bingo as a source of financing. Since the SBQ's creation in 1997, findings have confirmed how important the SBQ's network bingo products and promotional activities are for NPOs. Over $120 million has been paid out to organizations for which bingo is an important source of financing.

Network bingo

Network bingo products are offered in almost 70 halls, including those with the most activities in Québec. The halls are run by private or community managers, or NPOs who have been granted hall operating licences by the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.

In the past several years, the number of halls connected to the SBQ network has declined from 176 in 1997 to 69 in 2011. Despite that fact, the SBQ has been able to fulfill its primary mission and continues to turn over significant sums of money to community organizations year after year.

Four network bingo products are available to consumers:

• Le Petit Tour, for afternoon sessions
• Le Grand Tour, for evening sessions
• La Course de cochons, a product available both in the afternoon and evening
• Le Sprint.

Le Grand Tour and Le Petit Tour each offer a significant jackpot in addition to three other prizes. For Le Grand Tour, the progressive jackpot starts at $50,000 and increases by $2,500 each day until it is won. As for Le Petit Tour, it starts at $20,000 and increases by $500 every day until it is won. To win, players try to be the first in Québec to fill their cards within the prescribed number of balls. In cases where the jackpot is not won, a grand prize is awarded to the first person in Québec to fill his or her card. The grand prize is equivalent to 15% of Grand Tour sales and $2,500 for the Petit Tour game.

La Course de cochons has been available since December 5. This fast-paced game is presented before the Le Grand Tour and Le Petit Tour and offers a chance to win one of the 3 prizes, including a cumulative bonus starting at $20,000.

Launched on January 16, 2012, The Sprint game is played with La Course de cochons draw and offers prizes ranging from $500 and $1,500.

Evolution of the bingo industry

• Network products were introduced in bingo halls by SBQ in December 1997 to slow the trend of declining revenues for organizations that use bingo as a source of financing.
• Since April 1, 2002, all profits from marketing network bingo products are distributed to NPOs throughout Québec who choose this form of gaming to finance their activities.
• Since its creation, the SBQ has distributed over $120 million to NPOs holding bingo licences.
• Attendance in bingo halls has declined by an average of 7% per year since 1997. Despite the fact that the SBQ has managed to maintain a certain level of customer interest with improved products, dynamic promotions and special events held in halls, about twenty halls have closed their doors since 2008, jeopardizing the financial health of NPOs who depend on them to meet their commitments to the community.
• In response, the SBQ devised a concrete solution to maintain its contribution to NPOs with a pilot project launched in October 2010, that ended with the SBQ's decision to favour the establishment of Kinzo express halls.

Kinzo

The Kinzo game, available in Kinzo express halls, was marketed in order to maintain the SBQ's average annual contribution of $10 million by:

• continuing to turn over 100% of network bingo profits to affiliated NPOs;
• providing ad hoc financial support to orphaned NPOs;
• creating a fund to promote the bingo industry.

Kinzo is a new game currently offered in eight Kinzo express halls in Longueuil, Repentigny, Saint‑Eustache, Joliette, Vaudreuil‑Dorion, Laval (Saint‑Vincent‑De‑Paul), Montréal (LaSalle) and Beauport. The SBQ intends to continue developing the Kinzo express network in the coming months, reaching approximately 10 halls by March 31, 2012. Kinzo express halls are friendly and comfortable establishments and can accommodate some 50 players. Snacks and beverages are available at tables.

It was inspired by the popular European game and several other types of games, including keno. It may also be compared to some televised games since players announce their win by pressing a buzzer located in their game space. With its fast pace and dramatic sound effects, Kinzo game is dynamic and exciting. What's more, players may arrive and begin play at any time, for the length of time of their choice.

Kinzo comprises two games:

Kinzo uses a supervised electronic draw of 90 numbers. A new round begins every 6 minutes on average. The game is played simultaneously and throughout the Kinzo express network.

The Line
The first player in one of the Kinzo express halls to mark five numbers in a horizontal line and press the buzzer button on the game space wins the prize associated with that line.

The 15/15
The round continues until a player in one of the Kinzo express halls marks all 15 numbers on his or her card and presses the buzzer button on the game space, thus winning the prize associated with the 15/15 game.

Kinzo prizes are based on a system where all bets are pooled, which means that the prizes vary according to the total number of tickets sold in the Kinzo express halls. In addition, a player may win up to $100,000 if he or she completes the 15/15 game within the required sets of numbers.

Number of employees

The SBQ employs close to 50 individuals who manage the network and monitor the integrity of network bingo draws and Kinzo as well as Kinzo activities.

Société des bingos du Québec - Fact sheet
[PDF Format, 49 KB - Help, last update on January 30, 2012]

Last update: January 30, 2012