TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted a revised GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) on the procurement website, MERXTM.
The revised RFPQ document states that OLG has reached two long-term lease agreements with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), each for terms of 22 years (subject to Planning Act approval). The first is a long-term racetrack lease that applies to OLG’s current gaming site at Woodbine Racetrack in Gaming Zone C2. The second is a long-term ground lease that will allow the selected service provider to develop a predetermined number of acres owned by WEG for gaming and non-gaming purposes. The leases reflect Woodbine Racetrack’s prominence in the horse racing industry in both Ontario and in North America.
“This is a significant milestone in OLG’s modernization progress in a key market for Ontario. It will help OLG achieve its modernization objectives, which include job creation, new capital investment and increased revenue for the Province of Ontario,” said Stephen Rigby, President and Chief Executive Officer, OLG.
“Today is an important day for Woodbine Entertainment Group. These leases will allow us to continue to contribute to the vibrancy of the horse racing business and the economic benefits it generates for the Province and the thousands of people it employs,” said Jim Lawson, Chief Executive Officer, Woodbine Entertainment Group.
The selected service provider will be required to sign both long-term leases as a condition of closing when it assumes operation of the gaming sites in the GTA Gaming Bundle. The long-term lease agreements will be made available to pre-qualified proponents during the RFP process.
The leases represent an important step forward for OLG as it works in partnership with the industry to integrate horse racing and gaming. The leases also contribute to a sustainable and competitive horse racing industry. Broader discussions with the industry continue on all aspects of integration. “The work we are doing, in partnership with OLG, is about taking many positive steps forward to integrate horseracing into the gaming strategy across Ontario,” said Sue Leslie, President, Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association.
To ensure proponents have time to properly prepare submissions based on the revised RFPQ, OLG is also extending the deadline for submissions to September 10, 2015.
Throughout the procurement process, OLG has engaged the services of a Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice to support integrity and fairness.
At approximately $2 billion annually, OLG provides the Ontario government with its largest source of non-tax revenue. Modernization will help OLG provide more money to Ontario for key government services, including health care and education.
For more information on OLG’s integration of horse racing, visit ModernOLG.ca.
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for gaming facilities, the sale of province-wide lottery games, the PlayOLG Internet gaming website and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres across the province. Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $40 billion to the Province and the people of Ontario. OLG’s annual payments to the province have helped support the operation of hospitals; prevention, treatment and research of problem gambling; amateur sport through the Quest for Gold program; and local and provincial charities. OLG was a Premier Sponsor of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games.
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