TORONTO, ON – Great Blue Heron Charity Casino (GBH) will be included in the GTA Gaming Bundle. A number of agreements have been reached between the Government of Ontario, OLG, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) and other parties that allow the site to be added to the bundle. Working with MSIFN demonstrates the Ontario government’s commitment to Ontario’s First Nations communities.

“For almost 20 years, GBH has played an important role in Ontario’s gaming industry, the MSIFN community and the Region of Durham by creating jobs and contributing to the local economy,” said Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister of Finance. “The agreements we have reached and the addition of the casino to OLG’s modernization process will help ensure GBH continues to benefit the area for years to come.”

OLG’s procurement process for a service provider for the GTA Gaming Bundle is currently in the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase. OLG has provided an addendum to pre-qualified RFP proponents that provides information on the changes to the bundle.

When OLG released the GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ in December 2013 and the RFP in February 2016, it indicated that information about the possible inclusion of GBH would be shared with proponents during the RFP process.

“The addition of GBH is a significant step in our modernization process for the GTA Gaming Bundle,” said Stephen Rigby, OLG’s President and CEO. “The bundle represents a unique opportunity for a service provider to leverage the success of existing gaming sites, including GBH.”

OLG’s strategic procurement process involves information of a commercially sensitive nature. As a result, details of the RFP documents, including the addendum, will not be released.

On July 19, 2016, in a unanimous vote, MSIFN ratified a revenue share agreement that paved the way for OLG to add GBH to the Gaming Bundle.

“MSIFN’s Council take seriously our role in the community, and we look forward to working with local partners in the years ahead,” said Chief Kelly LaRocca. “We also want to stress that GBH continues to be open for business, and we look forward to working with OLG and its new operator in building a vibrant hub of economic activity at Scugog First Nation.”

To OLG, the integrity of the procurement process is of the utmost importance. OLG follows the Government of Ontario’s procurement guidelines to ensure that the process is fair and competitive. In addition, throughout the procurement process, OLG has engaged the services of a Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice.

The GTA Gaming Bundle has three gaming zones, currently served by OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and Great Blue Heron Charity Casino. OLG expects to announce the successful service provider for the bundle in late summer 2017.

OLG is the Ontario government agency that delivers gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner. OLG conducts and manages gaming facilities, the sale of province-wide lottery games, PlayOLG Internet gaming, the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres and is leading the integration of horse racing into the provincial gaming strategy. Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $44 billion to the Province and the people of Ontario. These payments to the province support the operation of hospitals, amateur sport through the Quest for Gold program, local and provincial charities and problem gambling prevention, treatment and research.

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