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.

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