The City of Waterloo is asking residents during the month of April to share what they think about having a casino in the community.
Beginning April 2, Waterloo residents can share their thoughts via email, phone, mail and fax, and can complete a survey online.
Economic development and diversification continues to be city council’s highest priority, said Mayor Debbie Amaroso.
And council will continue to strengthen supports to help local business succeed and prosper, she said. Amaroso was the keynote speaker at a Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce breakfast event Thursday.
The City of Waterloo will listen to its constituents as it weighs the decision of whether or not to entertain the idea of bringing a casino to town.
Councillors voted 6-2 Monday night to listen to resident input on the possibility of a casino.
Plans for a casino in the city of Belleville are moving ahead, and a recent visit by OLG President and CEO Rod Phillips confirmed that they hope to have found an independent operator for the potential facility by the end of the year, likely sometime in November.
The first thing you have to know about Rod Phillips is that he’s an immensely likeable guy, which makes him the perfect pitch man to move one of Ontario’s most controversial policies ever to fruition.
Phillips is CEO of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and as such, is responsible for remitting as much money as possible to the provincial treasury. These days, that’s getting harder to do. Casinos aren’t the magic bullet they once were 20 years ago, when Ontario’s first one was established in Windsor. Now, it seems, everyone’s got one.
Suppose that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. did not have a monopoly on gambling-related products in the province but on, say, bookshops. Or — getting crazy here — alcohol.
Now suppose that 15 years ago, an NDP government approved the concept of big bookstores or boozecans or whatever only in towns close to the border, where they would lure Americans enticed by a weak loonie to cross the porous border. It worked for a while, but then travel restrictions and a strengthened dollar cut the business by more than three-quarters.
It would seem ridiculous, in that scenario, to propose that the status quo is ideal. If the Ontario Bookseller and Magazine Corp. put forth a new business plan that called for selling its wares not just in places that used to attract tourists by the boatload, but closer to the major urban centres where the majority of customers live, it’s hard to imagine anyone saying this was not a sensible idea. And yet, as it pertains to opposition to the OLG’s proposal to put a casino somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area, subject to the whims of local politicians, that’s about where we are.
On Wednesday March 27, 2013, OLG President and CEO, Rod Phillips delivered remarks to The Economic Club of Canada about OLG’s modernization and the opportunity it presents for the Greater Toronto Area.
Read the full text of Mr. Phillips’ speech with accompanying slides.
Kitchener and Waterloo councils have both voted in favour of holding public consultations into attracting a casino to their respective cities, although there will be no such discussions in Cambridge.
Councils in all three municipalities held votes Monday night on whether to discuss the issue of casino development with citizens.
Redemption or downfall?
A multibillion-dollar downtown casino resort would be neither for Toronto, the mayor of Brantford says.
“It is not going to be the most amazing thing ever. But you’re not going to drop into the deepest depths of Hell. It will be somewhere in the middle,” Chris Friel said. “The truth is that, just as we function now, you will function in the same way. It is . . . just another industry.”
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce supports a casino in Sudbury if it is attached to a multipurpose facility.
“We feel that in order for there to be a relative economic spinoff for the community that a casino really becomes the adjunct to something else,” said Debbi Nicholson, president and CEO of the chamber.
If Peterborough’s casino decision was only about the amount of money that would flow in the answer would be simple: Bring it on.
A casino to be built here or in Cavan Monaghan Twp. is forecast to generate more than $4 million a year in gaming fees and property taxes.
Casinos on the scale found in Brantford and proposed in Peterborough should be thought of more as gambling dens than entertainment complexes.
They aren’t attractions with unusual architecture, sideshows, hotels, convention centres and performances, the kind of pleasure palaces found in Las Vegas or on a smaller scale in Niagara Falls or even Casino Rama. They’re straightforward gambling venues, and all the activity is contained within rather than spilling out into neighbouring streets and buildings.
TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today marked the close of its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle, which was issued on November 30, 2012, as part of OLG’s first wave of gaming RFPQs.
On March 7, 2013, OLG announced the close of the Ottawa Area and the Ontario East Gaming Bundle RFPQs.
“We’re continuing on the path to a modernized lottery and gaming system in Ontario,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO. “Along with the two RFPQs that closed last week, we will now undertake our due diligence in evaluating the RFPQ submissions for northern Ontario.”
This RFPQ was based on a Gaming Bundle, so interested service providers were required to submit proposals for the entire Gaming Bundle as set out in the RFPQ, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within the Gaming Bundle. This means that service providers had to demonstrate their ability to assume specific day-to-day operations of multiple facilities.
OLG will select service providers who are eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for the North and East Gaming Bundles, as well as the Ottawa Area.
As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers will be able to propose the construction of a new gaming site anywhere within a Gaming Zone, where there is municipal support.
However, all successful proponents will need to work with their host municipalities on specifics about a gaming facility, including selecting a preferred location. Before any site is built or relocated, three parties will need to agree—the municipality, the service provider and OLG, on behalf of the Ontario government.
OLG has two impartial advisors providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
While the new gaming model will include securing qualified service providers for the day-to-day operation of gaming, OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight of lottery and gaming. OLG will also continue to help prevent and mitigate the effects of problem gambling through its Responsible Gambling program, which is recognized internationally by the World Lottery Association’s certification program, and at four gaming sites, by the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada’s RG Check program.
In the coming months, OLG will launch RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones—some in Gaming Bundles. All RFPQs will be available on MERX™ (www.merx.com/olg). MERX™ charges a fee to download this type of material.
On December 14, 2012, OLG also issued a RFPQ for the modernization of the province’s lottery industry. That RFPQ will close on April 4, 2013.
OLG contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government. The vast majority of this funding is directed to hospitals and health care.
Once the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is complete, OLG will have increased its net contribution to the Province by $1.3 billion annually, while creating thousands of jobs and driving more than $3 billion in capital investment across Ontario.
For more details on Gaming Zones/Bundles, visit:OLG’s Modernization Project Status Page
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $36 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Proceeds from OLG’s operations help support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport through the QUEST FOR GOLD program, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities.
modernolg.ca
OLG is modernizing Lottery and Gaming for a better Ontario
Follow us on Twitter @modern_olg
“Know your limit. Play within it.”
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
Jim Comuzzi had his doubts when talk of a casino coming to Thunder Bay’s entertainment district started circulating.
The restaurant owner and vice-chair of the city’s Business Improvement Area isn’t a gambler and says he couldn’t help but wonder how much money locals stood to lose. Thirteen years later, Mr. Comuzzi isn’t as skeptical. In fact, he considers the casino a valuable community partner and a huge draw for the downtown.
Today, OLG marked the close of its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle.
In November 2012, OLG launched its first wave of RFPQs for the modernization of gaming in Ontario, which included one RFPQ each for the Ottawa Area, Eastern Ontario Gaming Bundle, and Northern Ontario Gaming Bundle. On March 7, 2013, the Ottawa area and Eastern Ontario RFPQs closed.
OLG will now undertake its due diligence in evaluating submissions for all three RFPQs and select service providers who are eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents.
As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers proposals can include building a new gaming site anywhere in a Gaming Zone, where there is support from the municipality. But successful proponents will need to work with the host municipality on the specifics of a facility, including the preferred location.
Where Gaming Zones have been bundled, a service provider’s proposal will need to be for the entire bundle, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites. This means that service providers had to demonstrate their ability to take over specific day-to-day operations at multiple facilities.
In the coming months, OLG will launch RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones—some in Gaming Bundles.
The pre-qualification deadline for applications from proponents interested in operating five casinos in Northern Ontario, including a new gambling facility proposed for Kenora, is Thursday, March 14.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission spokesman Tony Bitonti acknowledged there is significant interest by established operators in Canada, the United States and Europe in the ‘Northern Ontario Bundle’ which includes three existing casinos in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay as well as two new casinos in North Bay and Kenora.
OLG has reached lease agreements in principle for its slots operations at Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs.
OLG previously announced agreements in with 12 other site holders. With today’s announcement, OLG has now reached agreements in principle with all of its 14 sites.
OLG has provided the site holder with a Letter of Intent, which sets out the general intentions and business arrangements, subject to approvals, between OLG and the site.
“We are pleased to have reached lease agreements in principle for our slots operations at all of our sites,” said Rod Phillips, President and CEO of OLG. “We have longstanding and positive relationships with our site holders and look forward to working with them in the future.”
OLG hopes to finalize agreements with all site holders by March 25, 2013.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming won’t reveal how many companies have applied to operate the planned casino in Peterborough or Cavan Monaghan Township after the first stage of the process closed this week.
“This is very commercially sensitive. It’s a very competitive nature; a lot of competition,” OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti said Friday. “The next time we’ll announce anything will be who the successful operator will be for that region.”
While the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. won’t say exactly how many groups have applied to pre-qualify for the eastern Ontario casino tender, a spokesman said they are pleased with the number of interested parties.
The deadline for the request for pre-qualification (RFPQ) for the eastern Ontario bundle and Ottawa was Thursday, and Tony Bitonti, OLG spokesman, said the organization will now move to the next stage of the process, which will award a company the casino gaming rights to the region, which includes Kingston and Gananoque.
Those bidding to be private operators of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., casinos in Northern Ontario will have a bit more time to show their hands.
Nearly one year after the modernization of lottery and gaming was announced, the OLG closed its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Ottawa Area and the Ontario East “gaming bundles” Thursday. However, the RFPQ closing date for Northern properties has been extended to Thursday.
Almost one year after it was launched, the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is continuing with the close of two gaming RFPQs.
In November 2012, OLG launched its first wave of RFPQs for the modernization of gaming in Ontario, which included one RFPQ each for the Ottawa Area, Eastern Ontario Gaming Bundle, and Northern Ontario Gaming Bundle. On March 7, 2013, the Ottawa area and Eastern Ontario RFPQs came to a close. The Northern Ontario RFPQ will close on March 14, 2013.
OLG will now undertake its due diligence in evaluating submissions for the two RFPQs and select service providers who are eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents.
As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers proposals can include building new gaming site anywhere in a Gaming Zone, where there is support from the municipality. But successful proponents will need to work with the host municipality on the specifics of a facility, including the preferred location.
Where Gaming Zones have been bundled, a service provider’s proposal will need to be for the entire bundle, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites. This means that service providers demonstrate their ability to take over specific day-to-day operations at multiple facilities in a given region or geographic area of Ontario.
In the coming months, OLG will launch RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones – some in Gaming Bundles.
Read the full announcement
On Monday, March 4, OLG President and CEO, Rod Phillips delivered remarks outlining the benefits of OLG’s modernization of lottery in gaming at a North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce event.
Read the full text of Mr. Phillips’ speech.
TORONTO, ON – Nearly one year after the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario was announced, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today marked the close of its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Ottawa Area and the Ontario East Gaming Bundle.
These two RFPQs were issued along with the RFPQ for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle on November 30, 2012, as part of OLG’s first wave of gaming RFPQs.
As a result of an addendum issued on March 4, 2013, the RFPQ closing date for the Ontario North Gaming Bundle has been extended to March 14, 2013.
“With the close of the RFPQs today, we’re continuing with the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO. “We will now undertake our due diligence in evaluating the RFPQ submissions.”
Where the RFPQ was based on a Gaming Bundle, interested service providers were required to submit proposals for the entire Gaming Bundle as set out in the RFPQ, not for individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within a Gaming Bundle. This means that service providers must demonstrate their ability to assume specific day-to-day operations of multiple facilities in a given region or geographic area of Ontario.
OLG will select service providers who are eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for the Ottawa Area, as well as the East and North Gaming Bundles.
As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers will be able to propose the construction of a new gaming site anywhere within a Gaming Zone, where there is municipal support.
However, all successful proponents will need to work with their host municipalities on specifics about a gaming facility, including selecting a preferred location.
“Municipalities have a choice when it comes to the location of new or relocated gaming sites,” said Phillips. “As part of its resolution, a municipality may indicate conditions of its approval, such as where the gaming site may or may not be located. Before any site is built or relocated, three parties will need to agree – the municipality, the service provider and OLG, on behalf of the Ontario government.”
OLG has two impartial advisors providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
While the new gaming model will include securing qualified service providers for the day-to-day operation of gaming, OLG will continue its role in conduct, management and oversight of lottery and gaming. OLG will also continue to help prevent and mitigate the effects of problem gambling through its Responsible Gambling program, which is recognized internationally by the World Lottery Association’s certification program, and at four gaming sites, by the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada’s RG Check program.
In the coming months, OLG will launch RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones – some in Gaming Bundles. All RFPQs will be available on MERX™ (www.merx.com/olg). MERX™ charges a fee to download this type of material.
On December 14, 2012, OLG also issued a RFPQ for the modernization of the province’s lottery industry. That RFPQ will close on April 4, 2013.
OLG contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government. The vast majority of this funding is directed to hospitals and health care.
Once the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is complete, OLG will have increased its net contribution to the province by $1.3 billion annually, while creating thousands of jobs and driving more than $3 billion in capital investment across Ontario.
For more details on Gaming Zones/Bundles, visit:/who-we-are/procurement/modernization-project-status/
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $36 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Proceeds from OLG’s operations help support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport through the QUEST FOR GOLD program, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities.
modernolg.ca
OLG is modernizing Lottery and Gaming for a better Ontario
Follow us on Twitter @modern_olg
“Know your limit. Play within it.”
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
Woolwich councillors looked opposition in the eye Tuesday and didn’t blink — councillors voted 4-1 to support a casino in the township.
Officials will tell the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation they’re interested in bringing a casino to the region.
Location and scheme of a potential casino in North Bay won’t be discussed in earnest until an operator is chosen later this year.
Rod Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., told city officials and business representatives Monday the process to choose an private operator will take most of this year.
When Mike Harris was premier, the prospect of a casino coming to North Bay was a hot topic. Presentations and debate at city council and in the community at times became heated, as the public and councillors talked about either the financial benefits or the social ills associated with gambling.
The city’s share of potential casino revenue should be used for economic development, says Mayor Al McDonald.
The city can expect to receive a 5% share of overall slot machine revenue if a casino comes to North Bay. And McDonald says he would like to see that cash used to help boost the city’s economy.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said there are no plans to move OLG jobs from Sault Ste. Marie.
Wynne, during an exclusive interview with The Sault Star, said the Ontario government understands the importance of the OLG casino jobs – and the other related gaming industry jobs – to Sault Ste. Marie and its economy.