Video lottery terminal

Each terminal is connected to a centralized computer system that allows the lottery jurisdiction to monitor gameplay and collect its share of revenue.

In some jurisdictions, VLTs do not contain a random number generator, and display results from a fixed pool controlled by the central system (in similar fashion to scratch-off lottery tickets).

[1] In several provinces, VLTs were deployed primarily to help counter illegal underground video gambling operations, while several (particularly those whose economies are reliant on natural resources) cited economic development as a factor in their use.

[1] VLTs also began to appear in Western Canada in 1991, with Alberta trialling them during the Calgary Stampede and Klondike Days events before beginning a province-wide program the following year.

[1] Saskatchewan's VLT program also includes games offering regional and province-wide "Vault Breaker" mystery progressive jackpots.

[2] To address problem gambling concerns, VLTs in Canada are typically equipped with features and restrictions as safeguards in comparison to a casino-style slot machine, including the display of a player's credits as a cash value rather than units of a denomination, on-screen display of the current time, maximum session lengths with mandatory cash-out after time expires, limits on hours of operation, no Stop button (to regulate the pace of play), wager limits, limits on the amount of cash that can be deposited during a single session, and problem gambling resources.

[7] In January 2017, Quebec announced that it would similarly re-allocate and cut its VLTs from 12,000 to under 10,000 over the next two years, including making the number of sites and machines present in a region proportional to population, and a focus on placing them in leisure venues such as billiard halls and bowling alleys to "promote socialization and group entertainment".

[8] The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), a long hold-out, introduced VLTs branded as "Tap 'N Play" (formerly "TapTix") in the mid-2010's.

[18] A similar plan by the New Jersey Lottery died in 1983 after ties between state officials and VLT manufacturers raised conflict of interest concerns.

Most recently, in May 2006, petitions were filed containing over 21,000 signatures in order to place the issue on the November ballot; voters again agreed to keep video lottery, by a 66%-34% margin.

Other US jurisdictions which have had legal video lottery include: Oregon, Illinois, Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana and formerly South Carolina.

Of these, Delaware, Rhode Island and West Virginia previously participated in a multi-jurisdictional video lottery named Cashola.

Other states that have legalized VLTs in racinos are Delaware, Rhode Island, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.

All establishments licensed for the on-premises consumption of alcohol within the state of Montana are allowed to operate such machines provided they have the correct permits.

[citation needed] This is the same type of gaming offered in Nevada, Connecticut and Atlantic City, New Jersey as well as in the majority of tribal casinos.