Budget 2012: Amalgamation of Liquor and Gaming Regulatory Services
The April 17th Manitoba Budget announced that liquor regulation (Manitoba Liquor Control Commission) will be combined with gaming regulation (Manitoba Gaming Control Commission), creating a new regulatory authority. The Province expects this will reduce red tape for Manitoba businesses by bringing inspections and other regulatory services into a one-stop shop. During the transition to the new agency, the MGCC’s registration, licensing, audit, inspection and investigation services will continue to operate as usual. Budget 2012 also merges the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission’s operational activities and the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation to create a single streamlined Crown corporation.
Click here for the April 17, 2012 news release.
New Coins and Polymer Bank Notes


The Bank of Canada began circulating the new $100 notes in November of 2011, followed by the $50 notes in March of this year. The Royal Canadian Mint released the one-dollar and two-dollar coins shortly after, in April. The introduction of the notes and coins has required significant preparations for changes in Canada’s gaming environments. VLTs, slot machines, gaming kiosks and cash counters all operate with bill acceptors and are software calibrated and configured to recognize and accept legal tender.
Visit our New Technologies page to learn more about the impact of new notes and coins on gaming regulation.
The VLT Cost of Play Calculator Wheel, an MGCC, Addictions Foundations of Manitoba (AFM), and Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC) initiative, is now available for VLT players in Manitoba. The calculator wheel allows players to estimate the average cost of playing VLTs per week, month and year.
Click on the VLT Cost of Play Calculator Wheel to go directly to the interactive online version or visit our Public Education page to learn more about it.
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Promotional Contests Contests are very popular promotional tools used to generate interest in products and services offered by businesses and other organizations. The MGCC is often asked what the “rules” are for contests. Real promotional contests are not regulated by the MGCC, but there can be a fine line between a promotional contest and a raffle, which is a form of gambling. For more information visit our webpage on promotional contests or have a quick look at an excellent article by Drew Mitchell of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman entitled No Purchase Necessary - The Pitfalls of PromotionalContests. |
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If you are a player and want to find a bingo or Texas Hold’em event in your area or if you are a charitable organization looking for some raffle market information before you apply for your licence, you can find listings of MGCC licensed events here. |
You can also call the Gambling Helpline at
1-800-463-1554