Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

With today’s passing into law of Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is excited to offer single-event sports betting on PlayNow.com, Manitoba’s only legal online gambling site.

“We are very pleased to be part of this evolution of sports wagering in Canada,” said Manny Atwal, President & CEO, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries. “Single-event sports betting has long been available through unregulated gambling websites and we have been looking forward to providing Manitobans with a safe and secure option for some time.”

Prior to the passing of Bill C-218, the only sports wagers that were legal in Canada were parlay bets, where players were required to wager on multiple event outcomes. Many Manitobans, however, participate in single-event sports betting through offshore sports books or illegally in the black market. With single-event sports betting now available on PlayNow.com, players can be assured that they are in a regulated environment with revenue returned to the province to support initiatives that benefit all Manitobans.

While we have been eagerly anticipating the launch of single-event sports betting, we recognize that some individuals might require access to resources that can help them change their relationship with gambling. Through the PlayNow.com website, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries offers player health tools as well as GameSense tips and resources that can minimize risks and generate a positive gambling experience.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is also continuing to explore additional opportunities where single-event sports betting could potentially be implemented.

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Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries this morning terminated its retailer agreement with NAC Long Plain Limited Partnership for the Meta Cannabis Supply Co. store located at 420 Madison Street. The store’s retail licence was subsequently cancelled by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA).

The termination of the retailer agreement follows the mid-May suspension of the Madison Street cannabis store, which is located on Long Plain First Nation’s reserve lands in Winnipeg. Today’s actions are the result of several attempts over the last month by Liquor & Lotteries and the LGCA to work with the First Nation to operate within Manitoba’s legal cannabis framework.

Long Plain First Nation’s failure to respond to efforts to collaborate with both organizations, and the continued ongoing sale of unregulated cannabis from an unlicensed store on the First Nation’s Keeshkeemaquah reserve, prompted the agreement termination and licence cancellation today. Selling cannabis that has been manufactured at a facility without a federal production licence poses serious risks to consumer safety.

“Manitoba owes it to the licensed and regulated cannabis retailers and producers, who’ve made a significant investment in Canada’s burgeoning legal cannabis industry, to deliver safe and regulated products to Manitobans,” said Manny Atwal, President and CEO of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.

“Protecting the integrity of Manitoba’s cannabis licensing framework is a fundamental priority,” added LGCA CEO Kristianne Dechant. “Manitobans who choose to use cannabis should be assured that they are buying safe products from licensed and regulated retailers.”

Manitoba’s legal framework for cannabis sales, The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act, requires all cannabis stores in the province to be licensed by the LGCA. Further, all cannabis sold at licensed stores must be purchased from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the province’s exclusive wholesaler, which in turn may only acquire cannabis from producers licensed by Health Canada. These requirements apply regardless of whether or not a store is located on First Nations land.

While Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and the LGCA is still interested in facilitating ongoing licensed participation within Manitoba’s legal cannabis framework, they will continue to act in the broader public interest to protect all Manitobans and preserve the integrity of the system and rules by which all other retailers conduct business.

A list of licensed cannabis stores is available at https://LGCAmb.ca/cannabis/store-list/.

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Suspension of Cannabis Store on Long Plain First Nation

Earlier today, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries suspended its retailer agreement with NAC Long Plain Limited Partnership for the Meta Cannabis Supply Co. store located at 420 Madison Street on Long Plain First Nation’s urban reserve in Winnipeg. This resulted in an immediate suspension of the store’s licence by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA). The store cannot sell cannabis until these suspensions are lifted.

Long Plain First Nation, which is the majority owner of NAC Long Plain Limited partnership, sanctioned and continues to participate in the sale of unregulated cannabis from an unlicensed store on the First Nation’s Keeshkeemaquah reserve. Further, this store continues to sell cannabis manufactured in a facility without a federal production licence, which raises significant public safety concerns. Multiple requests to Long Plain First Nation to cease this illegal activity went unanswered.

“Public safety has been our primary concern since the legalization of cannabis was announced,” said LGCA CEO Kristianne Dechant. “Manitoba’s strict licensing framework for cannabis stores is designed to ensure that adults who choose to use cannabis have access to safe products from regulated retailers.”

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries CEO Manny Atwal added, “Protecting the interests of licensed cannabis entrepreneurs and the integrity of the supply chain are paramount to Manitoba’s legal cannabis framework. More than 80 licensed cannabis stores are open for business in Manitoba, including stores located on and run by First Nations. Ignoring unlicensed operators selling unlicensed products jeopardizes licensed stores’ success.”

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act, Manitoba’s legal framework for cannabis sales, requires all cannabis stores in the province to be licensed by the LGCA. Further, all cannabis sold at licensed stores must be purchased from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the province’s exclusive wholesaler, which in turn may only acquire cannabis from producers licensed by Health Canada. These requirements apply regardless of whether a store is located on First Nations land.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and the LGCA continue to work with Health Canada and law enforcement on upholding Manitoba’s legal cannabis framework.

A list of licensed cannabis stores is available at https://LGCAmb.ca/cannabis/store-list/.

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Liquor Mart Anti-Theft Strategy Update

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is seeing encouraging results from its enhanced strategy to target Liquor Mart theft.

“Since the measures were announced in March, we have seen a 23 per cent reduction in theft and robbery incidents,” said Liquor & Lotteries President Peter Hak. “While these are still early results, we are cautiously optimistic they are trending in the right direction.”

Hak said the increased security efforts have also produced a 20% increase in the number of arrests made and a 55 per cent reduction in shrinkage (cost to Liquor Marts due to bottle theft) within all stores. “While we are pleased to see improvements in shrinkage, our number one priority is the safety of our employees and our customers,” said Hak. “We have been working closely and cooperatively with the Winnipeg Police Service to apprehend and arrest thieves and it is gratifying to see these efforts are having the desired effect.”

In mid-March the corporation announced a strategy to target increasing thefts and robberies in Liquor Marts while protecting the safety of employees and customers.
Several tactics were announced including the use of bottle locks and alarm pedestals, dummy bottles, video displays at Liquor Mart entrances, exit turnstiles, requiring customers to ask staff for high value bottles, as well as the expanded use of Winnipeg Police Service Special Duty Constables in Winnipeg Liquor Marts, and the creation of a Loss Prevention Officer team. The corporation also initiated a public information campaign to let customers know about the new measures and to warn potential thieves they would get caught.

Hak said not all measures have been implemented to date and the corporation is continuing to assess and evaluate the impact of the deterrents. He said customers may see additional measures implemented in the coming weeks and months.

“We are encouraged by these early results; however, we will continue to monitor the impact of our measures and fine tune our efforts going forward,” said Hak.

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To arrange an interview, contact:
Char Thompson | Public Affairs Coordinator
204.957.2500 ext. 3930 | char.thompson@mbll.ca