Manitoba Lotteries

The first lottery in Manitoba was conducted and managed in 1970 by the Centennial Committee during Manitoba's 100-year celebration. Residents of Manitoba may participate in traditional instant and draw type lotteries, as well as online sports betting and casino games offered by the lottery.

In 1974, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia joined together to form the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC), which currently operates lotteries in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as in association with the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. British Columbia now operates its own lottery.

The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC), a Crown Corporation since 1993, owns and operates the province's VLTs. The MLC also sells and distributes tickets for WCLC lotteries. Before becoming a Crown Corporation, MLC was known as the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation (MLF). The MLF, originally a regulatory body that replaced the Manitoba Lotteries and Gaming Control Commission and the Manitoba Lotteries and Gaming Licensing Board, became involved in operations and marketing in 1984.

In April 2010, the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission began regulating all lottery ticket retailer operations in accordance with legislative amendments passed the previous year. The Manitoba Gaming Control Commission was established in 1997 in response to a review of lottery and gaming policy in the province. The report released after the review recommended that the operation and regulation of lotteries and gaming be conducted by independent entities.

In 2012, the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and Manitoba Lotteries merged into a single entity overseen by the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission.

In April 2014, liquor and gaming regulatory divisions merged, creating the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba (LGA).

In 2013, Manitoba Lotteries rolled out its online gaming site, PlayNow.com.

Although managed by the Manitoba Lotteries Commission, Casino City considers VLTs to be a casino and card room activity.