Performance

Driving Our Future

In 2009/10, we delivered strong results to our shareholder, the Government of B.C., and made key decisions to set the course for our future. For the fourth consecutive year, we generated over $1 billion in net income for the benefit of British Columbians. We introduced new games and refreshed current products to deliver new levels of entertainment to our players. Please see our 2009/10 Annual Report [PDF 4MB] for a full review of our 2009/10 performance.

2009/10 Highlights:

• We formalized our commitment to social, economic and environmental responsibility in BCLC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Charter.
• LOTTO MAX, the first new national lottery game in over 15 years, launched in fall 2009 and quickly set a record for the largest total top-prize pool in Canadian history (a $50 million jackpot plus 10 additional MAXMILLIONS™ draws worth $1 million each).
• GameSense public service announcements aired on television, marking the first-ever responsible gambling TV ads in B.C.
• We opened Chances community gaming centres in Squamish and Abbotsford.
• Highlights from our other gaming facilities included opening a dedicated room for poker players at River Rock Casino, adding more slots to Great Canadian Casinos View Royal and introducing fully electronic table games with virtual dealers at lake City Casino Vernon.

Financial Benefits 2009/10

Every year, BCLC's net income supports a variety of government initiatives. For a summary of how Government distributed our 2009/10 net income of $1079.1 million, please see the Annual Benefits to B.C. Chart.

Historical Highlights

Games of chance have a long history, with the first accounts of gambling recorded in China around 2300 B.C. The Great Wall of China was financed, in part, by a lottery.

As early as 1420, lotteries were used in Europe to raise funds for public works. For example, the first collection in the British Museum was financed in 1753 using funds from a lottery.

IIn British Columbia, lottery sales began on BC Day, August 4, 1974. BCLC brings a long record of offering games of chance that are fun, fair and trustworthy, and conducted with the greatest integrity. Read more BCLC historical highlights.