HISTORY OF THE SOCIÉTÉ DES BINGOS DU QUÉBEC

For more than 12 years, the Société des bingos du Québec (SBQ) has provided timely financial support to non-profit groups through the network bingo products it markets participating bingo halls.

Important dates in SBQ's history:

July 3, 1997

Loto-Québec creates its new SBQ subsidiary, with a mission to market network bingo products and support non-profit groups.

December 2, 1997

SBQ business operations begin with a network of 179 bingo halls. Initially, two network bingo products are offered daily, one at 2:30 in the afternoon (Défi 51) and the other at 8:30 PM (Le Grand Tour).

November 15, 1999

Launch of Éclair, a complementary, Keno-type game played with the first 15 balls drawn.

April 1, 2002

A new Loto-Québec policy comes into force, where all network bingo profits are paid to non-profits.

June 17, 2002

The SBQ implements a new computer platform for network bingo, developed by the corporation's data processing team.

September 27, 2004

A new afternoon version of Le Petit Tour is launched, which offers customers higher prize levels.

May 9, 2005

A new version of Le Grand Tour is launched.

February 27, 2006

Éclair now becomes an independent game that requires a second, fast draw. Called Le Tour Éclair, the game is played just before Le Grand Tour and Le Petit Tour.

December 11, 2006

A new-format game strip is added to Le Grand Tour and Le Petit Tour.

September 24, 2007

Caméléon replaces Tour Éclair.

December 2, 2007

The SBQ celebrates its 10th anniversary. In 10 years, more than $100 million dollars have been paid out to more than 1,000 bingo-licensed non-profits.

September 26, 2008

Fiesta is launched. The new game is played at 11:30 PM in selected participating halls on Fridays and Saturdays. The product will remain available until November 2009.

April 27, 2009

Le Lièvre et la Tortue game replaces Caméléon.

May 25, 2009

New-format game strips come out for Le Grand Tour and Le Petit Tour.

October 5, 2009

The new La Course de cochons game replaces Le Lièvre et la Tortue.

October 26, 2009

A $1 ticket, Le Sprint, is launched, played along with La Course de cochons.

January-March, 2010

SBQ Managing Director's tour, meeting with some 400 representatives of non-profits.

April 26, 2010

A new prelude game, La Roue chanceuse, replaces La Course de cochons.

October 19, 2010

Inauguration of Kinzo, a new entertainment filled with suspense. With the launching of this game, SBQ pursues its prime objective which is to increase the revenues of those non-profit organizations (NPO's) that have chosen bingo as their source of funding.