What Are Video Lottery Games And How Can They Be Played?

Video Lottery Games or Video Lottery terminal (VLT), also sometimes known as a video gaming terminal (VGT), video slots, or the video lottery, is a type of electronic gambling machine.

They are typically operated by a region’s lottery, and situated at licensed establishments such as hotels. pubs, casinos bars and restaurants.

Video Lottery Games In Canada

VLTs are not available in every province. They are most commonly found in:

• Alberta – Operated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)
• Saskatchewan – Via Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
• Manitoba – Through Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
• Quebec – Operated by Loto-Québec
• Atlantic Canada (Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI) – Offered by Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC)

Video Lottery games or VLT programs are operated in nine Canadian provinces, with the only major exception being British Columbia. These machines are typically governed by the region’s lottery and gaming boards, and are situated inside licensed establishments such as bars, liquor establishments. lottery centres, charity venues and real casinos.

VLTs were first popularized in Atlantic Canada, with New Brunswick becoming the first province to introduce them in 1990.

You can now find VLTs or video lottery games in Western Canada, Alberta, Manitoba, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Atlantic Canada, New Found land and Labrador.  

Note that

• Ontario (bans VLTs in public venues)
• British Columbia (offers slot-style machines but under different regulation in casinos)

What games are offered

1. Slot-style games – Spinning reels, symbols, and paylines.
2. Video poker – Five-card draw poker against the machine.
3. Keno – Fast-paced number matching game.
4. Blackjack, Baccarat – Card games with virtual dealers.
5. Bingo or themed games – Like fantasy, sports, or adventure styles.

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The Video Lottery program in Canada offers a variety of games, including reel games, jackpots and keno. New games are added regularly to give players lots of choice.

All the video games are powered by top gaming providers like Spielo, IGT, Bally, Aristocrat and others.

Some of the games to play are Big City 5’s, The Big Easy, Cherry Rain, Cherry Rain Deluxe, Fireball Keno, Mermaid Garden,  Royal Spins, Thunder Stampede, Triple Staxx,  Trouble in the Henhouse,  The Wild Life Wild Pride, American Original,  Blazing Shots, Bonus Sevens Wild, Cash’m if you Can, Pharaoh’s Fortune, Power Keno, Siberian Storm, Fortunes of the Nile, Miss Kitty, 7’s Wild, Ocean Magic and others.

The minimum regulated payout percentage in Canada is 80%.  This means that at minimum, 80% of all money played is returned to players in prizes, in varying amounts.  The payout percentage is higher than the actual cash-out percentage because consumers play the prizes they win in order to extend their play.

How are video lottery games played?

• Go to a bar, pub, casino, or lottery centre with VLT machines. You need to be of 19+ of age and 18+ in Alberta and Quebec.
• Insert cash or use a voucher purchased from a kiosk or cashier.
• Entrance amount of money is from 5 cents to $10
• Some provinces use cards linked to a player account for responsible gambling tracking.
• Then you will see the on-screen menu, where you have to choose the type of game you would like to play. When you are ready with your choice, just start an enjoyable playing.
• Select from a menu of available games, slots, poker, or others.
• Choose how much to wager per line or hand. Betting limits vary by province.
• Press “spin” or “deal” to start. Outcomes are determined by a random number generator (RNG).
• If you win, the machine prints a voucher or updates your card balance.
• Redeem your winnings at a redemption kiosk or cashier.

Remember that machine pays out are done in two ways ( coins or receipt which you may redeem for money that is equal to your prize)

At the time of pandemic, Canadian lotteries had taken full precaution and made the players abide the rules of social distancing when playing these video lottery games.

Several features are available on VLTs to help manage responsible play, including ‘time played’ reminders, mandatory cash-out at 150 minutes of play, displaying cash not credits, maximum bets and cash-in limits and more.

It is obvious that VLTs introduction has heavily influenced all gambling industry.  Canada is definitely the center of VLT functioning. Canadian government does not afraid of some negative results of video lottery terminals as the contributions of these terminals are pretty high and do surpass all possible drawbacks.

Major Takeaways

You do not have to ask any people about game rules. These machines are considered to be self-taught being so attractive for all players.

Video lottery terminals have slot machines that can provide you with different games (poker hands, bingo cards). A player puts payment, chooses a number combination and presses a button or pulls a lever. As a result, numbers are generated in a random way by the lottery principal.

Remember that you need to set daily and weekly limit to play these games.. And, if you find yourself addicted go for self exclusion programs os take help and support from the gaming helpline numbers.

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