OUR HISTORY
A lot has changed since OLG was founded in 1975 – but our commitment to making a difference for the people of Ontario has remained the same. Explore our history to learn more about our past, and to get excited about our future.
OUR HISTORY
A lot has changed since OLG was founded in 1975 – but our commitment to making a difference for the people of Ontario has remained the same. Explore our history to learn more about our past, and to get excited about our future.
RICH HISTORY, VIBRANT FUTURE
OLG has proudly given back to the people and Province of Ontario since we launched the first lottery in Ontario in 1975. As we evolve, we’re continuing to support communities while creating the future of gaming entertainment. Through product growth and expansion, we are innovating Ontario’s gaming industry while building deep relationships with our customers and partners to drive ongoing success. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
OLG Through the Years
Explore over 40 years of OLG milestones that celebrate all we’ve achieved.
2010
2010
January
OLG and Canadian Niagara Hotels reach a 15-year lease agreement for the Casino Niagara property.
OLG reduces the size of online lottery tickets by 25 percent – an additional reduction over the initial 15-20 percent announced in May 2009.
OLG opens the expanded section of the gaming floor at OLG Slots at Ajax Downs, and introduces 550 new machines to the facility and 70 new full and part-time jobs.
2010
April
OLG announces that Responsible Gambling Resource Centres (RGRC) are now open at 27 gaming facilities across the province.
2010
June
Canada’s biggest-ever lottery draw to date takes place on Friday, June 25. LOTTO MAX offers a jackpot of $50 million plus an additional 49 $1 million MAXMILLIONS prizes, for a total of $99 million in top prizes.
2010
September
OLG launches a new daily lottery game – POKER LOTTO – the first game in Canadian lottery history that offers both instant in-store wins of up to $5,000, and nightly prize draws of up to $100,000 with each $2 ticket.
OLG reconstructed the play pattern of the December 26, 2003 winning SUPER 7 ticket and created a customer and ticket profile. This was done with a new, in-house data analytic tool, known as Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology (DART). DART allows OLG to review billions of transactions within seconds to recognize patterns that identify potentially fraudulent behaviour or claims.
2010
October
OLG begins posting the quarterly travel and hospitality expenses incurred by the Board of Directors, CEO and Executive Committee online as required by the Public Sector Expenses Review Act, 2009.
2010
November
OLG and Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner release a white paper announcing a major development in privacy-protective facial recognition technology, which will be rolled out at OLG gaming sites across the province in 2011.
2010
OLG releases in-depth details of its new Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology (DART) system. DART enables OLG to swiftly and effectively review billions of records for information needed to identify potential instances of fraudulent or other suspicious activity.
2010
December
The first $50 million LOTTO MAX jackpot was won in Ontario on December 31. To date, this is the largest jackpot ever won in Ontario with a single ticket.
2011
2011
January
OLG announces that a group of seven Ontario residents has been identified as the rightful winners of a lottery ticket that won a free ticket that in turn won the $12.5 million SUPER 7 jackpot on December 26, 2003. OLG created customer and ticket profiles using a new in-house data analytics tool known as DART (Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology). DART can review billions of transactions in seconds, identifying patterns and potentially fraudulent behaviours and claims.
2011
April
OLG attains the highest level of recognition for its Responsible Gambling (RG) program from the World Lottery Association (WLA).
OLG announces it is collaborating with 16 gambling and debt counselors across the province to offer Off-Site registration for the voluntary Self-Exclusion program.
2011
May
The new 18-thousand square foot addition to the gaming area at OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack officially opens.
2011
June
OLG provided more than $2 billion to the Province of Ontario – for the year ending March 31, 2011 – after earning the highest consolidated gross gaming revenue in its history.
2012
2012
March
OLG releases its report, “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, which outlines plans to revitalize Ontario’s regulated lottery and gaming industry.
2012
April
OLG ceases operations at three Slots at Racetracks facilities in Fort Erie, Sarnia and Windsor.
2012
May
OLG contracts with Canadian Bank Note Company Limited to provide Charitable Gaming and Bingo services based in Sault Ste. Marie.
2012
June
OLG introduces a new PICK 2 daily online lottery game and adds midday draws to the popular PICK 3, PICK 4 and DAILY KENO daily online games.
LOTTO 6/49 celebrates its 30th anniversary. In thirty years LOTTO 6/49 held more than 3,000 draws, generated sales of $52 billion, and paid out $24.6 billion in prizes to some 915 million winners, including 3,119 jackpot winners.
2012
July
On July 6, 2012, LOTTO MAX offers the largest-ever prize pool in Canadian lottery history comprising a $50 million jackpot and 50 individual MAXMILLIONS prizes of $1 million each.
2012
October
OLG introduces MEGADICE LOTTO that features two chances to win on each ticket – an instant win dice game and evening lotto draw.
2013
2013
January
OLG Casino Brantford, OLG Slots at Mohawk Racetrack and OLG Slots at Woodstock Raceway receive RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council.
2013
April
LOTTO 6/49 offers a total jackpot pool of $63.4 million on April 13, 2013 – the largest single jackpot prize ever in Canadian history. There were four winning tickets worth $15.8 million each – three issued by BCLC and one by WCLC.
2013
May
OLG introduces a new hosting fee formula for all municipalities with OLG gaming facilities.
2013
July
OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie, OLG Casino Thunder Bay, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and OLG Slots at Sudbury Downs receive RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council.
2013
September
LOTTO 6/49 gets a makeover with a new Guaranteed $1 Million Prize Draw in addition to the regular jackpot that now starts $5 million, a new FREE PLAY prize and better overall odds of winning. The new LOTTO 6/49 is $3 per play.
OLG Slots at Western Fair District, OLG Slots at Dresden Raceway and OLG Casino Point Edward receive RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council.
2013
October
OLG begins work with the Ontario government and the horse racing sector to integrate horse racing into the provincial gaming strategy.
Charitable Gaming Centres in Cambridge and Mississauga offer electronic bingo games.
2013
November
OLG introduces the WHEEL OF FORTUNE® LOTTO daily lottery game based on the theme from the popular television game show.
OLG Slots at Georgian Downs, OLG Slots at Kawartha Downs and OLG Casino Thousand Islands receive RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council.
2013
December
OLG releases its first comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report serving as a baseline measure of OLG’s efforts in a number of areas of social responsibility including Responsible Gambling, public trust and employee community engagement.
2014
2014
January
OLG Slots at Clinton Raceway, OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs and OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway receive RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council.
OLG pays the unclaimed $50 million LOTTO MAX jackpot from November 30, 2012 after identifying the winner using Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology (DART).
2014
March
OLG introduces ALL IN, an optional additional $1 wager for POKER LOTTO offering players a chance to instantly win a jackpot that starts at $10,000 and grows with each play until it is won.
2014
April
The Auditor General of Ontario releases a Special Report on the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program and OLG’s modernization.
2014
May
OLG introduces a refreshed ONTARIO 49 game with a bigger, $2 million jackpot, new lower-tier prizing, better overall odds of winning and a new price of $1 per play.
2014
November
OLG receives the World Lottery Association’s 2014 Best Overall Responsible Gambling (RG) Program award.
2014
December
OLG announces the appointment of Stephen Rigby as President and Chief Executive Officer.
2015
2015
January
PlayOLG.ca is launched, a province-wide Internet gaming website, featuring a wide range of interactive casino-style games as well as the sale of LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX lottery tickets and ENCORE.
2015
March
As a Presenting Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, OLG, through the OLG Pass It Ontario Program, selects Torchbearers from 33 Ontario communities.
2015
May
OLG celebrates the 40th anniversary of WINTARIO, Ontario’s first provincial lottery game. The anniversary was celebrated by previewing OLG’s support of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Torch Relay and the introduction of the “All for Community Challenge” initiative.
2015
October
The LOTTO 6/49 jackpot reaches $64 million, making it the largest single jackpot to date in Canada.
2015
December
The winning ticket for the December 2, 2015 LOTTO 6/49 Guaranteed $1 Million Prize Draw is sold through PlayOLG, marking the first big lottery win on OLG’s Internet gaming website.
2016
2016
January
Ontario Gaming East Limited Partnership assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the East Gaming Bundle, which is made up of Casino Thousand Islands, the slots facility at Kawartha Downs and the opportunity to build a new gaming facility in Belleville.
2016
February
OLG introduces PlaySmart, a refreshed Responsible Gambling Program! PlaySmart arms players with facts, tools and advice about gambling to help customers make informed choices about their play. And if gambling ever stops being fun, PlaySmart is here with resources and supports for those that need it.
2016
April
OLG takes over administration of the Transfer Payment Agreements (TPAs) for the horse racing industry in Ontario.
2016
May
OLG launches the horse-themed product, THE CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN INSTANT game, which offers seven top prizes of $100,000 and a second chance contest to win one of ten prize packages to the 2017 Queen’s Plate.
OLG’s Self- Exclusion Program is extended to all Charitable Gaming Centres in the province available to those who wish to take a break from play.
2016
September
The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and OLG sign a revenue sharing agreement to finalize the Great Blue Heron Casino’s transition to a commercial casino and inclusion in the GTA Gaming Bundle.
2016
October
DAILY GRAND launches, the new national lottery draw game with a top prize of $1,000 a day for life.
NBA games are made available for sports wagering on OLG’s PRO-LINE.
2016
November
OLG introduces Lottery Gift Cards, a convenient new gift giving option for lottery play.
2016
December
A redesigned OLG.ca website is launched
2017
2017
February
OLG and the Responsible Gambling Council partner on a rebranded approach to PlaySmart Centres – available at all Casinos and Charitable Gaming Centers Ontario wide. Offering an elevated customer education experience, in alignment with PlaySmart’s visual branding approach.
2017
May
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the North Gaming Bundle, which is made up of Casino Sault Ste. Marie, Casino Thunder Bay, the slots facility at Sudbury Downs and the opportunity to build new gaming facilities in the Kenora and North Bay areas.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the Southwest Gaming Bundle, which is made up of Casino Point Edward and the slots facilities at Clinton Raceway, Dresden Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Western Fair District and Woodstock Raceway.
2017
June
The OLG Lottery App launches, providing players a convenient way to scan and check their lottery, INSTANT and sports tickets on a mobile device.
2017
July
OLG launches the horse-themed $5 INSTANT IN THE MONEY MULTIPLIER lottery ticket, the fourth horse-themed product in less than two years.
2017
August
Ontario Gaming GTA, LP is selected as the service provider for the GTA Gaming Bundle, which includes the Great Blue Heron Casino and the slots facilities at Ajax Downs and Woodbine Racetrack.
Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners is selected to design, build, finance and maintain the Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre.
2017
September
HR Ottawa, LP assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the Ottawa Area Gaming Bundle which is made up of OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
OLG launches the OLG PRO•LINE App, allowing players to build sports wagers on their mobile phones, eliminating the need for a paper selection slip.
THE BIG SPIN lottery game launches. The $5 INSTANT ticket combines scratch play, an in-store spinning wheel on the lottery terminal screen and in-person spins on The BIG SPIN Wheel at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.
2017
OLG.ca wins a Hickey Award for “Best Website” at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) awards.
2017
November
OLG issues a Request for Proposal for a service provider to enhance and expand sports betting through existing retail locations as well as online and mobile devices.
2018
2018
January
Play OLG launches online lottery subscription.
2018
Ontario Gaming GTA LP assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the GTA Gaming Bundle, which is made up of OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and Great Blue Heron Casino.
2018
OLG launches the HIT OR MISS lottery game. Players can win a $250,000 jackpot by matching all or none of their numbers and watch the animated draws online.
2018
March
OLG announces the establishment of a new long-term funding agreement for Ontario’s horse racing industry, providing nearly two decades of stable funding.
2018
May
PlayOLG offers Instants, a new category of single-wager, interactive games.
Ontario Gaming West GTA LP assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the West GTA Gaming Bundle, which is made up of OLG Casino Brantford, OLG Slots at Mohawk Racetrack, OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs and OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway.
2018
July
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the Central Gaming Bundle, which is made up of OLG Slots at Georgian Downs and Casino Rama Resort.
2018
September
PlaySmart.ca wins a Hickey Award for “Best Website” at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) awards.
2018
October
OLG introduces THE BIGGER SPIN INSTANT lottery ticket. The $10 ticket offers a chance to win up to $1,000,000 on THE BIGGER SPIN Wheel at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.
2018
December
Mediacorp Canada Inc. names OLG a Greater Toronto Top Employer for 2019.
2019
2019
March
Under an amended Long-Term Funding Agreement with Ontario’s horse racing industry, OLG will contribute $10 million annually to support for breeders and horsepeople.
OLG receives the World Lottery Association’s 2018 Best Overall Responsible Gambling Program award. This is the second such recognition for OLG.
2019
April
A new, more sustainable business model is introduced for Ontario’s charitable gaming industry, designed to increase revenues and the number of charities that can benefit from the program.
2019
May
LOTTO MAX receives a makeover with the maximum jackpot raised to $70 million, the addition of a second weekly draw and two new prize categories.
2019
June
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and assets of the Niagara Gaming Bundle which is made up of Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.
2005 – 2009