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.
The slot machines will continue to operate at Ajax Downs for another three to five years while the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation decides the future of the casino.
OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti said the corporation has a lease agreement in principle with site owners. The current lease was set to expire at the end of March.
Other than the odd scratch ticket, I don’t gamble. That likely has more to do with the fact I’m cheap rather than actually not enjoying one of history’s oldest forms of entertainment.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has been an important figure throughout the province for many years. OLG has been apart of the Town of Innisfil since 2001, providing hundreds of jobs for people in the surrounding area. The economic benefit for being a host community has been quite substantial for the past 12 years. Georgian Downs has been a hotspot since its opening, benefiting the economy and tourism each year. A number of changes in technology, demographics, and shopping patterns have caused the OLG to restructure its current business model. Beginning in 2012 OLG has started modernizing its gaming corporation throughout Ontario.
Sudbury city councillors are in agreement that they want a new casino for the city to be more than a casino.
At its Tuesday night meeting, council voted unanimously on a motion stating that the city is interested in a casino that comes with extras like a hotel, a convention centre or an Ontario Hockey League arena. The vote sets the stage for negotiations with the private company the province selects to run Sudbury’s casino.
Town councillors may try one more roll of the dice.
On Monday night, councillors were told there could be an opportunity to host a casino in Collingwood — and it would be more than just a 300-slot gaming facility.
OLG is pleased to announce that it has reached a lease agreement in principle for its slots operations at Ajax Downs.
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. OLG previously announced it has reached agreements in principle for its slots operations with 11 other site holders.
“We are pleased to have reached lease agreements in principle for our slots operations at 12 of 14 sites,” said Rod Phillips, President and CEO of OLG. “We continue to hold discussions with the remaining site holder and are hopeful that a positive outcome to those discussions is near for all facilities.”
OLG hopes to finalize the agreement with the site holder by March 15, 2013.
“We have longstanding and positive relationships with our site holders and look forward to working with them in the future,” said Phillips.
TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), together with the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association and Commercial Gaming Association of Ontario have made further progress in the revitalization of charitable bingo at Boardwalk Gaming in Pembroke with the introduction of new electronic games.
The goal of this revitalization is to ensure local charities have a viable way to fundraise to support local programs; to enhance local charitable operations and support local employment at the gaming centres; and to offer customers a new entertainment experience.
“Through the introduction of new electronic games, we are able to provide customers with new gaming choices and improve their customer experience” said George Sweny, Senior Vice President of Charitable and iGaming at OLG. “The revitalization of gaming at bingo centres will provide a new source of revenue for local charities to continue their important work in communities.”
Boardwalk Gaming Pembroke now offers customers the choice of new electronic games or the traditional paper-based games that have been played at bingo centres for years.
“Adding new electronic products to our traditional paper-based games enables us to revitalize the charitable gaming industry and provide a sustainable source of revenue for our associated charities to continue their important work in communities” said Lynn Cassidy, Executive Director of the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association.
The introduction of these new devices follows a successful 2005 pilot program which introduced e-bingo at six sites in five communities throughout the province which resulted in a significant increase of revenue raised for local communities. Since the launch of the pilot program, more than $43 million has been raised for Ontario charities.
“Boardwalk Gaming & Entertainment is pleased to partner with the local Charities in Pembroke, and Laurentian Valley Township, alongside the OLG to ensure the survival of charitable gaming in the Ottawa Valley” said Tom Aikins, Regional Manager of Boardwalk Gaming. “We are excited to present new bingo play options now and into the future as new products are added.”
More charitable gaming centres across the province will complete their revitalization in the coming months.
Backgrounder Charitable Gaming in Ontario
OLG is working closely with the Commercial Gaming Association of Ontario (CGAO) and the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA) to revitalize the province’s Charitable Bingo and Gaming industry. By developing and introducing new products and technologies that will invigorate the traditional charitable gaming experience, more money will be generated for thousands of local charities across the province. The revitalization initiative is intended to preserve and enhance funding for charities across Ontario while creating economic benefits, including employment opportunities, at local charitable gaming centres.
OLG introduced a pilot program in 2005 to test electronic versions of existing paper-based bingo games to six charity bingo centres in five communities in Ontario. These pilot centres in Barrie, Kingston, Peterborough, Sudbury and Windsor have since raised $43 Million for local charities.
Following the success of this pilot project, OLG is beginning a phased rollout of a new suite of electronic games to other charitable gaming sites in the province. This new breed of charitable games will offer customers more choice and complement existing paper bingo games. Offerings will include:
The new games will allow Charitable Gaming Centres to offer more customer choice, be more competitive and appeal to a broader demographic, while providing a new gaming entertainment experience from traditional bingo and casinos.
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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The day when you can pick up a Lotto-Max ticket with your double-double or choose your winning numbers with your tablet or smartphone might not be that far off.
Collingwood appears to be back in the game.
Councillors weren’t keen on supporting a stand-alone 300 slot machine facility, but they appear to be willing to look at an integrated destination resort casino.
Comments in Susan Sherring’s February 16th article are incorrect. OLG’s position has been consistent since our dialogue began with the City of Ottawa last year.
The City will have approval of the location of a casino. This has been made clear in a variety of public forums including: Mayor’s letter to Council, September 24th/12; OLG’s presentation to Council, October 03/12; and the City’s news release, October 10/12. The ongoing role of the City was further clarified in our correspondence to the City Manager, November 23/12. A number of these documents are available on the City of Ottawa’s website and have been reported in the media.
Location must be agreed upon jointly by three parties – City of Ottawa, OLG and a regulated private operator, once they are selected.
OLG is currently seeking operators through a transparent and competitive procurement process. This is underway in Ottawa and in eight other municipalities.
The selected private operator will take over operation of the OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton facility. Discussions on any changes they may propose will begin between the operator, the City of Ottawa and OLG after procurement is complete.
OLG and Ottawa have enjoyed a successful relationship. Since opening in 2000, our 250 employees at OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton have hosted 2 million visitors annually and helped generate over $45 million in revenue for the City. Like every OLG gaming facility, profits are used to support priorities like health care and community infrastructure.
Rod Phillips
OLG President and CEO
Not only are the slots going to remain at Georgian Downs, but the town could actually receive increased revenue.
A new revenue-sharing agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) was shared with Innisfil councillors earlier this week.
It’s a gamble that could have a huge pay off for Belleville. But with every gamble, there are some who feel the city could elso roll craps.
It likely won’t be until autumn before the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announces what municipalities will be playing host to new casinos in the province, but The Friendly City seems to be among some of the most likely cities to get a facility and Mayor Neil Ellis says if that’s the case it can only bring positive spinoffs.
Now that Peterborough City councillors have mapped out locations and talked numbers, they’re looking to find out how the community feels about bringing a casino to town.
During a meeting on March 5, the City is inviting the public to have their say on the issue. Staff need to know whether people in Peterborough feel the downtown is a suitable spot for a gaming facility, and how they feel about hosting a gambling a operation in general, says Malcolm Hunt, director of planning with the City.
A new casino would likely have no impact on crime in Peterborough and would not require any additional police resources, city police Chief Murray Rodd said Wednesday.
“The impact is virtually nothing with respect to crime,” Rodd said, responding to a question after his presentation at the Downtown Business Improvement Area breakfast meeting. “It just doesn’t seem to have any real impact in terms of violence, assaults. It doesn’t seem to translate into additional work for the police.”
Ford and Chicago mayor both want a casino, Feb. 16
Your article comparing gaming proposals being considered in Toronto and Chicago did not mention that Toronto has actually hosted a gaming site since 2000: OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation chairman Paul Godfrey says Brantford has a strong casino that will retain its base of gamers as the provincial agency seeks to expand gambling revenues across Ontario.
The OLG has plans to expand Ontario’s gaming revenues by $1 billion by 2018 through attracting private-sector investment in five new casinos and existing facilities across the province.
A casino in the city could generate between $3.7 million and $4.8 million in revenue for the municipality, which could be used for capital projects in the community, a city report shows.
It’s a rough estimate of the direct financial benefit to the municipality if a casino is built in the community.
So, the compromise worked. Councillors voted to make Hamilton a “willing host” to a casino, picked Flamboro Downs as their choice of location, but agreed to look at other sites if a potential operator shows Flamboro isn’t viable.
Frankly, after almost a year of debate, it’s not unlike council’s original position of last April.
With a handful of prospective private-sector bidders having already made the trip, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) chair Paul Godfrey trekked through the Brantford Casino Friday reinforcing the agency’s confidence in the facility’s future.
Godfrey toured the casino after meeting with Brantford Mayor Chris Friel, Ward 5 Coun. and finance committee chair David Neumann, CAO Ted Salisbury and director of economic development and tourism John Frabotta.
After months of heated, divisive and often nasty debate, councillors have made a unanimous decision that puts the casino question on the back burner for at least another year.
Councillors voted Thursday to designate Flamboro Downs as the preferred location for a casino — but agreed they’d ultimately consider other sites if private gaming operators can prove Flamboro isn’t viable.
Ontario’s new premier says the province needs to stay out of casino talks and let municipalities like Hamilton make decisions for themselves.
“It’s a contentious issue,” said premier Kathleen Wynne on a conference call with local reporters Thursday afternoon. “Differences of opinion are evident in governments and in communities, and that’s what makes it contentious.”
On Monday, February 11, 2013, Rod Phillips, President and CEO of OLG appeared on Bob Bratina’s Hamilton, which airs on Cable 14 in the Hamilton Area. Mr. Bratina is the mayor of Hamilton. During the interview Mr. Phillips discussed OLG’s modernization.
The interview can be found on YouTube.
Three new hotel developments in the city are an early sign of a coming casino-related boom for Belleville, the city’s mayor says.
The Ontario government has chosen the Belleville-Quinte West district for a future casino, with a decision expected later this year, possibly by fall.
The head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation says Hamilton will have not one, but two opportunities to say yes or no to a new casino.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s hopes for a new casino in Waterloo Region is pinned on one simple requirement — they need you to gamble more.
But that doesn’t mean a proposed casino here would drain revenues away from other local businesses as some critics suggest, according to the president Rod Phillips.
RE: Subdue the OLG monster: horse racing hall of famer, Community Voices, Review, Jan. 24
I would like to clarify information in a letter that appeared in your publication on January 24.
Dear Mr. McLean:
I’m looking forward to attending your Chamber of Commerce meeting next week. Thank you again for the invitation to speak to the group.
In advance of next week, I thought it would be beneficial if I answered the comprehensive questions you posed just prior to the New Year.
Read the full text of Mr. Phillips’ Letter to the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
OLG President and CEO Rod Phillips had another opportunity to reach out through the media to Ontarians to discuss key issues. On the morning of Monday, February 4, CBC’s Matt Galloway invited Mr. Phillips to the CBC Toronto studio to be a guest on its popular morning show Metro Morning. The lively discussion focused on the debate about a GTA gaming entertainment centre, OLG’s role in the process and where people can go to find out more information about Modernization.
Read the full interview transcript.
To listen to the full interview, please visit cbc.ca.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the provincial agency responsible for the regulation of gaming, has initiated a new modernization plan that aims to maximize revenues to the provincial government by placing new facilities in areas of greatest customer demand. The plan also calls for enhanced benefits for host communities such as more quality jobs, private sector investment, and tourism opportunities.
This is an important first step in the public debate. By having a full public dialogue on the pros and cons of this issue, the community and elected officials will have all the facts on which to make their decision.
Downtown is Peterborough’s entertainment centre. Theatres, bars and restaurants have always clustered there, more noticeably and successfully in the past decade.
And while it has the ring of cliché, downtown really is the heart of the city. Of any city.
So if a casino comes to Peterborough, downtown is where it should be.
If you’re in the gaming business, now is the time to start looking around for potential casino sites.
Companies interested in running area gaming sites are now submitting requests to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), says an OLG representative, which means it’s possible they’ll start searching out potential spots to expand or relocate facilities.
A Toronto casino has become controversial, but Paul Godfrey wants people to trust him when he says it will be good for the city.
On Friday, January 25, OLG Chairman, Paul Godfrey delivered remarks outlining the benefits of a GTA gaming entertainment centre at a Canadian Urban Institute roundtable event.
Read the full text of Mr. Godfrey’s Canadian Urban Institute roundtable speech.
OLG wants to ensure that communities have the information they need about modernization to encourage dialogue and make informed decisions, based on facts. During the week of January 21, 2013, President and CEO Rod Phillips was invited to be a guest on two live radio talk shows and one live television talk show, to discuss Modernization and to take questions from Ontarians about key issues.
CBC’s Ontario Today, hosted by Kathleen Petty, welcomed Rod to the show on January 23, 2013 at 12:15 p.m. The discussion focused on the impact of Modernization on communities across Ontario, what new gaming facilities would mean for them and the programs that OLG creates to ensure safe and entertaining gaming facilities. Callers were able to express their views and ask questions about these issues.
Listen to the full interview. You will be redirected to CBC.ca.
Also on January 23, radio host John Tory invited Rod Phillips to his Toronto studio to be a guest on his live CFRB1010 talk show. The discussion focused on the potential GTA-area gaming entertainment centre, a recent public opinion poll, OLG’s programs to prevent problem gambling and modernizing the lottery system. Callers were also able to call in to this show, to express their views and ask questions about these issues.
On January 25, 2013, Rod Phillips was a guest on the Stephen LeDrew show on Toronto’s CP24. This is his second appearance on LeDrew Live – he first appeared on the show with OLG Chair, Paul Godfrey to announce Modernization in March 2012. This second conversation focused on the progress that has been made in the past year and touched on the current conversations around a Toronto gaming entertainment centre.
If Gananoque loses its casino to Kingston, it would be a “game changer” for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands as well, its deputy mayor says.
The township would be financially devastated, said deputy mayor Heidi Conarroe, as would its residents, many of whom are among the 400 staff working there.
If a casino comes to Toronto, exactly how much money is in it for the city?
That is a central question in the heated debate over whether to bring a gambling hall to town, but it could remain unanswered until after the decision is made.
OLG chair Paul Godfrey said Friday that talks are underway with the city manager to arrive at a precise estimate of the city’s hosting fee, but he acknowledged that might not be reached before city hall is due to vote on the issue in April.
In Brantford, casino revenues flow uphill.
Situated on the banks of the Grand River, at the bottom of a steep slope on the southern edge of downtown, the gambling hall has played a crucial role in the stunning transformation of the historic streets above.
(Re: Put casino to a vote – Toronto Star, January 25)
This week’s Ipsos-Reid poll showing 52 percent of Torontonians would vote in favour of a casino adds an interesting perspective to this discussion.
In fact, Toronto has had a popular gaming facility for over a decade. The Ipsos-Reid research notes that among Etobicoke residents, people who have lived near our Woodbine facility for 12 years, approval is even higher–57 %. In addition, since 2000, the City of Toronto has benefited from over $189 million in hosting fees from OLG Slots at Woodbine.
Other Ontario communities, like Brantford,(“How Brantford used casino dollars to save itself” Rachel Mendleson, Jan. 25) have also been clear about the benefits that gaming facilities provide: Chris Friel, the mayor, noting that his city wouldn’t have been as dynamic as it is now.
Rod Phillips,
President and CEO, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
Toronto has launched its long-awaited public consultation on a proposed resort casino with a website, an online survey and five open houses to be held across Canada’s largest city.
Ontario is another step closer to a sustainable horse racing industry after reaching an agreement in principle to provide transition funding to the province’s largest provider of horse racing.
The agreement with Woodbine Entertainment Group will ensure races continue at the Woodbine and Mohawk tracks as the industry adapts to a more sustainable model. Agreements with additional race tracks are anticipated to be reached in the coming weeks.
OLG has reached lease agreements in principle for its slots operations with eight of its site holders. This includes:
OLG has provided the site holders with a Letter of Intent, which sets out the general intentions and business arrangements, subject to approvals, between the site and OLG. On December 21, 2012, OLG announced agreements in principle with Western Fair District Raceway and Kawartha Downs Racetrack.
“We are pleased to announce that we have reached lease agreements in principle with 10 gaming 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 site holders by February 28, 2013.
OLG continues to engage in lease agreement discussions with its other site holders across the province and remains hopeful that a positive outcome to those discussions is near for all facilities.
The owner of flashy restaurants like Bymark and North 44 has hopped aboard the casino bandwagon. Earlier this week, Mark McEwan assembled a group of the city’s most influential chefs to discuss why putting a mega-gambling complex downtown would be good news for the food industry.
A majority of Torontonians favour building a casino in the city, according to a new survey that gives the yes side a “significant lead” in the contentious municipal debate.
An Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the National Post, Global Television and Newstalk 1010 found that 52% of respondents either strongly or somewhat support a new gambling venue within its borders, compared to 42% in opposition and 6% who are not sure.
He’s right you know.
Yes, Rob Ford was correct Sunday when he said that a downtown casino for Toronto would not spike crime rates.
Look at a similarly sized city in another part of the world that has embraced casino gambling for evidence.
It was clear to see there is passion and interest on both sides of the casino debate in Hamilton.
About 500 people attended round two of the city’s public meetings to discuss the possibility of a downtown casino.
If the ambitious vision for the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) comes to fruition, the expanse of land surrounding the future site of the 15-storey KPMG tower will soon sprout a densely packed urban core where people can live, work, shop and play.
A deputy chief with the Hamilton Police Service says he’s found no evidence so far that a casino directly leads to increased crime.
Ken Leenderste began researching the issue last year. He’s found from other cities that entertainment districts bring more people, which by nature means more crime. But it’s not the casino itself.
In 2012, OLG began the process of modernizing Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry. This included releasing Requests for Information for both lottery and gaming, and two Requests for Pre-Qualifications: one for lottery along with the first in a series of RFPQs for gaming.
Important discussions about OLG’s modernization are taking place in municipalities across Ontario and online through social media. As 2013 begins, OLG wants to continue to be part of this important conversation and be as open and transparent about the modernization process as possible.
To help engage and inform Ontarians, OLG has launched @Modern_OLG – a Twitter account that will provide the latest updates about the modernization process. In addition, through @RodPhillipsOLG, OLG’s president and CEO, Rod Phillips will also be tweeting his thoughts on modernization, as well as on OLG’s Responsible Gambling initiatives, and other important topics.
OLG invites all Ontarians to join the conversation and follow the modernization process on Twitter.
Could a Vegas-inspired casino bring Ottawa residents some relief for their tax bill?
And if so, is that reason enough to build one?
Do we really want our municipal leaders making major planning decisions based simply on how much money any one particular project might make?
Councillor Ana Bailao is questioning the rush for the city to decide whether or not to gamble on a casino.
Bailao — one of the councillors still on the fence about a Toronto casino — said Friday she thinks the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation would wait if Toronto needed more time to get more facts on the issue.
Three OLG gaming facilities and one gaming resort facility have been recognized with the RG Check accreditation – the most rigorous Responsible Gambling (RG) accreditation program in the world.
In October, three sites — OLG Casino Brantford, OLG Slots at Mohawk Racetrack and OLG Slots at Woodstock Raceway — achieved an RG Check accreditation. And, earlier in 2012, Caesars Windsor became the first casino resort property in the world to achieve this accreditation.
OLG is mandated by the government to design and deliver a world-class RG program. Achieving RG Check accreditation demonstrates OLG’s commitment to addressing problem gambling head on. It does this by empowering players to make informed decisions and providing training to help employees handle a range of customer needs on the gaming floor.
Awarded by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), the RG Check accreditation is based on an RG Index that is informed by international best practices and evaluates eight core standards: corporate policies, self-exclusion, advertising and promotion, informed decision making, assisting patrons who may have problems with gambling, access to money, venue and game features, and employee training. The four sites met all of these standards, earning OLG the highly recognized accreditation.
Participating in the assessment required a large effort on the part of OLG staff at the accredited gaming sites and OLG’s broader RG team. The process involved submitting hundreds of pages of documentation, many hours of investigative interviews, and thorough inspections at each site.
“This is a significant accomplishment that couldn’t have happened without the hard work of the OLG team,” said Grant Darling, General Manager of OLG Casino Brantford. “The RG Check accreditation is a testament to the dedication of our employees and their commitment to upholding OLG’s high standards when it comes to Responsible Gambling.”
OLG will continue to work towards achieving the RG Check accreditation at each of its sites. Maintaining OLG’s high quality RG program is critical to OLG’s modernization. All future qualified service providers will be required to adhere to rigorous external standards like the RG Check and the regulations of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The silence was deafening.
Barrie councillors received a staff report Monday detailing four opinion polls showing city residents don’t want a casino as part of a hotel/convention centre in the downtown, but took no action on it.
Paul Godfrey realizes not everyone is a gambler, but neither is everyone a fan of art, opera or sports. That doesn’t mean galleries, theatres and stadiums shouldn’t exist, he told a business crowd at The National Club Tuesday morning.
“I don’t believe you should say no to a casino just because you yourself are opposed to gambling,” said the chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and president and CEO of Postmedia, which owns the National Post.
On November 9, 2012, Toronto Public Health released a technical report, The Health Impacts of Gambling Expansion in Toronto, about the health-related impacts of gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling in the Greater Toronto Area. The report also offered recommendations to mitigate risks associated with gambling. Experts from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario collaborated with Toronto Public Health staff to review and consider the implications of opening a casino in Toronto.
Currently, OLG has a number of responsible gambling (RG) initiatives in place including RG communications, Self-Exclusion programs supported by Responsible Gaming Resource Centres (RGRCs), data analytics, and mandatory employee RG training. OLG is continually improving its RG program and is currently working on new RG player and public education, enhanced employee training including the identification of “red-flag” behaviours, and a review of gambling venues’ hours of operation.
For more information, please see OLG and Responsible Gambling in Toronto.
City council can use casinos to generate cash to expand Toronto’s subway system, says a taxpayers’ group.
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition said it will present a new report on funding rapid transit without increasing the burden to taxpayers at Wednesday’s casino consultation meeting at City Hall.
Throughout the month of January, the City of Toronto wants to hear what its residents think about the possibility of a new gaming facility in the city.
The city has launched a consultation process to gather input, including the public’s views and opinions on a new facility generally, on possible locations for a casino, and what they would like Council to consider when making a decision.
There will be five public consultation sessions that Torontonians can attend or they can also provide feedback online.
To find out more about Toronto’s consultation process, visit www.toronto.ca/casinoconsultation.
Torontonians can now tell their political leaders whether the city should host a casino.
The city’s casino consultation website, www.toronto.ca/casinoconsultation, went live Thursday and will be recording people’s views and providing information until Jan. 25.
The City of Toronto has just launched its online consultation about the prospect of opening a casino in Toronto. As part of that public consultation process, the City has put out a short primer on the various casino options.
On page six of that primer, a new and important number: $50–$100 million. That’s how much the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation now estimates the City of Toronto would make in annual hosting fees, if we decided to allow an “integrated entertainment complex” at Exhibition Place, the Port Lands, or in the convention centre area.
As local media reports have indicated, recent decisions from Queen’s Park have provided renewed interest across Ontario related to gaming facilities.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the provincial agency responsible for the regulation of gaming, has initiated a new modernization plan aimed at maximizing revenue for the provincial government by placing new facilities in areas of greatest customer demand.
The plan also calls for enhanced benefits for host communities such as more quality jobs, private sector investment and tourism opportunities.
Experts are split on the issue of whether a downtown casino would harm or benefit Hamilton’s economy in the long run.
Across Ontario, local charities rely on charitable bingo and gaming centres as an important source of funds for the services they provide to their communities.
Recognizing how vital this local support is, OLG began a partnership seven years ago with charities and charitable gaming operators to revitalize the sector by providing new products to appeal to a broader clientele.
The result is today’s bingo centre is becoming a very different place from even a decade ago when charitable bingo and gaming started seeing a sharp decline.
Despite the fact City Hall could be plunged into a mayoral byelection in the new year, the city’s top bureaucrat says council will need to weigh in on the future of transit in the city and whether to bet on a Toronto casino.
Those two major issues — explosive enough on their own — won’t be able to rest on the back burner pending the outcome of Mayor Rob Ford’s ongoing political predicament.
While he wants to hear from residents, Mr. Pennachetti cites one key benefit in giving the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation the go-ahead to build a casino: If it yields about $100-million in revenue to the city per year, it could solve the municipality’s structural deficit.
“If a casino is done right, it doesn’t have to take away from our city and what we’re proud of. We’re not Las Vegas. We don’t want that moniker of being casino town,” he said. “But if it’s done right and we don’t impact our existing theatre and cultural scene, it’s possible to have something here.”
The way the mayor of Gananoque sees it, the casino location issue has swung back in her town’s favour.
At the end of November, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced it would “bundle” the northern and eastern gaming zones it had created only last spring.
The upshot is that any private casino operator coming to eastern Ontario (excluding Ottawa) will have to set up in three zones — in the Peterborough area, Belleville and either Kingston or Gananoque.
The second phase of a provincial selection process is underway to find a private sector company interested in operating five casinos in Northern Ontario, including a new gaming facility hotel/convention centre located in the Kenora area.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) is following up on its request for Expressions of Interest from participating municipalities by releasing Requests for Pre-Qualification proposals to interested gaming companies.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation began its process to modernize – or privatize – the province’s lottery industry.
It has issued a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) to “pre-qualify” service providers for the day-to-day operations of lottery services.
Potential service providers which are interested are asked to submit applications to demonstrate their experience as it relates to the lottery business by April 4.
The City of Toronto will be taking the question of whether there should be a casino built in city limits to a number of neighbourhood meetings in January.
The city-wide consultation will take the form of a series of community open houses, as well as an interactive website.
Brockville is backing Gananoque and the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands in their fight to keep the local casino.
City councillors have unanimously endorsed a resolution stating council “supports the current location in the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands for the OLG Casino Thousand Islands.”
Today, OLG began the process of pre-qualifying service providers for the day-to-day operations of lottery in Ontario. This is the next step forward in modernizing the province’s lottery industry.
Through a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ), potential service providers are being asked to demonstrate their experience as it relates to the lottery business. This includes:
“By modernizing our lottery business, we will increase efficiencies, expand options for lottery sales, and introduce new games and innovation to the system,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and Chief Executive Officer. “We want to make playing the lottery more convenient and engaging for our customers.”
Eight million adults in Ontario played the lottery each year. But while the Ontario adult population has grown by 11 per cent over the past 10 years, the number of Ontarians playing lottery games on a regular basis has remained static.
By introducing new technologies and sales channels, OLG will enhance convenience and make the lottery experience more entertaining. This includes making it easier for customers to buy lottery tickets at grocery and drug store checkouts. Around 90 per cent of adult Ontarians shop monthly at grocery and drug stores yet only 9 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, of OLG lottery revenue is generated at these locations.
In the future, OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight of lottery. This includes setting the overall strategy for lottery and managing the market by approving channel strategies and products.
OLG will also continue to 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.
For more information on today’s RFPQ launch, read the backgrounder.
TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today began the next step forward in modernizing the province’s lottery industry by issuing a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ). The purpose of the RFPQ is to pre-qualify service providers for the day-to-day operation of lottery in Ontario.
At this stage in the process, potential service providers are being asked to demonstrate their experience as it relates to the lottery business. This includes:
“By modernizing our lottery business, we will increase efficiencies, expand options for lottery sales, and introduce new games and innovation to the system,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and Chief Executive Officer. “We want to make playing the lottery more convenient and engaging for our customers.”
Based on the responses it receives from the RPFQ, OLG will identify service providers eligible to receive and respond to the Request for Proposal (RFP), the next stage in OLG’s procurement process for modernizing lottery.
Following the RFP, OLG will select a qualified service provider to be the Lottery Integrator, Technology Lead and Marketing and Sales Lead.
The service provider will be responsible for recommending strategies to maximize the growth and success of the lottery business, developing products and marketing plans, operations, and process and cost optimization. It will also serve as a single point of contact for OLG by being responsible for everything subcontractors do and ensuring they deliver on OLG’s modernization requirements.
In the future, OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight of lottery. This includes setting the overall strategy for lottery, managing the market by approving channel strategies and approving products.
OLG will also continue to 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.
The issuance of this Lottery RFPQ follows a successful Request for Information (RFI) process, through which OLG received more than 30 submissions.
“We’re very pleased with the level of interest in our business and the extent of the information provided to us through the RFI,” said Phillips. “It’s clear that there is a lot of interest in the opportunities Ontario has to offer when it comes to lottery.”
OLG has two impartial advisors providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
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.
Interested service providers must respond to the Lottery RFPQ by April 4, 2013.
OLG will continue to issue RFPQs for the modernization of gaming in Ontario. The first wave of gaming RFPQs was released on Friday, November 30, 2012.
All RFPQs will be available on MERX™ (www.merx.com/olg). MERX™ charges a fee to download this type of material.
Additional information is available in the media section at www.OLG.ca:
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. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“Know Your Limit. Play Within it”
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
OLG has initiated the next phase of the procurement process to modernize the lottery in Ontario by issuing a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ). The RFPQ will allow OLG to pre-qualify service providers for the day-to-day operation of lottery in Ontario.
Interested service providers must respond to the RFPQ by April 4, 2013. The RFPQ is available on MERXTM (http://www.merx.com/olg).
In March 2012, OLG delivered a report to the Minister of Finance, outlining a proposal to modernize lottery and gaming in Ontario. The report contained three key recommendations:
OLG’s modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is underway and once 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.
In the spring, OLG initiated a fair and transparent procurement process by releasing two Requests for Information (RFIs) — one for Gaming and one for Lottery — to solicit feedback from potential service providers. OLG received more than 30 responses to its Lottery RFI from a wide range of organizations, including lottery operators, marketing firms, technology providers, suppliers and others.
The RFPQ will help OLG determine the skills and abilities of potential service providers.
The RFPQ asks interested service providers to demonstrate experience as it relates to the lottery business, including:
Interested service providers must also have submitted an application for registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The RFPQ process will enable OLG’s procurement department to identify qualified service providers to be eligible to receive and respond to the Request for Proposal (RFP) — the next stage in OLG’s procurement process for modernizing lottery.
Following the RFP, OLG will select a qualified service provider to enter into an agreement with OLG to be the Lottery Integrator, Technology Lead and Marketing and Sales Lead.
The service provider will be responsible for recommending strategies to maximize the growth and success of the lottery business, developing products and marketing plans, operations, and process and cost optimization.
Subject to OLG’s overall conduct and management of gaming activity, the service provider will also be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the lottery business, including:
The service provider will be granted the exclusive right to operate lottery in Ontario for a term of 10 years with the possibility of extensions.
The modernization of OLG’s lottery business has three goals:
As new channels and technologies emerge, opportunities will arise to further meet customers’ needs by improving the lottery playing experience by making it more entertaining and engaging.
OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight and remain the “operating mind” behind the delivery of lottery in Ontario. This includes setting the overall strategy for lottery, and managing the market by approving sales channel strategies and products.
OLG will also continue to 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.
OLG will expect the service provider to recommend approaches to the operation of the lottery that would improve customer service, increase lottery revenue and/or increase net profit to the province.
Service providers pre-qualified through the RFPQ process will be invited to take part in the RFP stage of the procurement process. The successful service provider will be selected from this group. OLG will issue the RFP for the modernization of lottery in 2013.
Disponible en français
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The Downtown Barrie BIA would welcome a casino – if it’s small and would compliment a hotel/convention centre, says BIA managing director Craig Stevens.
Thursday night, Stevens will be at a special meeting to hear OLG officials talk about the next phase of modernizing the gambling industry.
Pickering made the right move for its residents by declaring itself a willing host for a casino.
Whether it truly wants one is another story, but the City in a 4-3 vote this week approved a motion by Councillor David Pickles stating the City is a willing host for an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation gaming facility. It also asked staff to look into the expected financial benefits and other impacts, and expressed support for revenue sharing among municipalities within the same gaming zone: Pickering, Whitby and Ajax.
The city wants to know if it’s time to hold ‘em or fold ‘em.
The question is whether to open a casino in downtown Barrie.
A public meeting in council chambers Thursday from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. will offer the public both a chance to hear from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG), and ask questions of the city’s committee members who are reviewing the notion of gambling in Barrie.
A casino could be coming to Pickering after council declared the City a willing host.
The idea of hosting a new casino in Pickering is returning to council.
Councillor David Pickles will be introducing a motion at the council meeting on Monday, Dec. 10 requesting staff report back on the anticipated financial benefits and other impacts if Pickering were to host a casino. The motion would also express council’s support of revenue-sharing among Pickering, Ajax and Whitby, the three municipalities encompassed within the Province’s C3 gaming zone.
Erika Demchuk, mayor of Gananoque, knows that the future of her community’s casino is really out of her hands.
And while she didn’t support a passed motion this week to begin negotiations with a high-powered lobby group in an effort to help gather support to keep the OLG Thousand Islands Charity Casino in Gananoque, she said she’ll do all she can to keep the facility right where it is rather than in rival Kingston.
It’s time the Ontario government got out of the gambling business, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said Monday, hinting that he also wants to privatize liquor sales.
The cash-strapped government, facing a $14.4-billion deficit, needs to re-evaluate everything it does to get out of businesses that are better run by the private sector and instead concentrate on services like health care and education, added Hudak.
In May of this year, OLG initiated a Request for Information (RFI) process for its land-based gaming operations. The purpose of the RFI was to gather input from potential qualified service providers for the day-to-day operation of gaming in Ontario.
“We received more than 100 responses from a wide range of proponents,” said Rod Phillips, President and CEO, OLG. “The RFI process has provided us with a better understanding of the complexity of the change we are making as an organization.”
During the RFI process, a number of respondents told OLG that grouping some of the 29 identified Gaming Zones into Gaming Bundles would help OLG to more effectively manage the gaming market in Ontario. They also said it would create opportunities for service providers to realize revenue and cost synergies by operating multiple facilities in a given region.
As a result, OLG today announced it has grouped eight previously announced Gaming Zones into two Gaming Bundles and is asking interested service providers to demonstrate their ability to operate multiple facilities in Eastern and Northern Ontario.
It’s important to note that the bundling of Gaming Zones does not mean that current or proposed facilities, or proposed Gaming Zones, would be merged. But rather that one service provider could operate facilities in more than one Gaming Zone.
The announcement of the new Gaming Bundles was included in the launch of three separate Requests for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ), one for the Gaming Zone in the Ottawa area, and one for each of the two bundled areas mentioned above.
Qualified service providers interested in bidding on one of the two new Gaming Bundles are required to submit proposals on the entire bundle, not on individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within a Gaming Bundle.
OLG intends to issue separate RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones, some in Gaming Bundles, over the next several months.
For more information on today’s RFPQ launch, read the backgrounder.
For more information on the location of OLG’s proposed Gaming Zones, view the map of Gaming Zones.
For more information on Gaming Zones, read ‘the science behind OLG’s gaming zones’.
A company will rake in $30 million annually — at the bare minimum — to run a new Ottawa-area casino that could have up to 600 seats at table games and 2,000 slots.
A call Friday by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to pre-qualify potential bidders for the request for proposals means it’s officially game on for the lucrative contract.
Any gaming company looking to set up a casino in Kingston or surrounding area will also have to set up two others in the eastern Ontario region.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced in a release Friday that it was moving to the Request for Pre-Qualification stage as it continues its casino modernization process.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming is seeking a single operator for casinos sites across the North.
Northern Ontario’s five gaming zones — North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Kenora — have been bundled together as one bidding opportunity under OLG’s request for pre-qualifications which was issued Friday.
TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is taking another important step forward in modernizing the province’s lottery and gaming industry by starting the Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) process. This process is intended to pre-qualify service providers for specific day-to-day operation of gaming in Ontario.
The gaming Request for Information (RFI) that OLG released on May 17, 2012, identified 29 proposed Gaming Zones — or geographic areas — where qualified service providers would be permitted to operate a single gaming facility.
“We received more than 100 responses to our gaming RFI from a wide range of proponents, and we now have a better understanding of the change we are making as an organization,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO.
As a result of feedback from the RFI, and to enable OLG to more effectively manage the gaming market in Ontario, OLG is grouping many of the 29 Gaming Zones into Gaming Bundles — each bundle representing a separate bidding opportunity.
OLG is releasing its RFPQs in stages. The first wave includes three separate RFPQs, one for each of the following:
Where the RFPQ is based on a Gaming Bundle, interested service providers are 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 for some RFPQs, including two of the three being issued today (East and North), service providers must demonstrate their ability to operate multiple facilities in a given region or geographic area of Ontario.
Service providers must also provide information on their financial and technical attributes and capabilities, including proof of successful experience with similar projects.
In addition, service providers are asked to provide information on any experience and working relationship with First Nations or First Nations communities.
“This is the next step in our Modernization plan. We plan to have no more than one gaming site in each of the 29 Gaming Zones,” said Phillips. “Gaming Bundles will not result in the merging of current or proposed gaming sites, or of proposed Gaming Zones.”
OLG intends to issue separate RFPQs for the remaining Gaming Zones, many in Gaming Bundles, over the next several months. Details pertaining to upcoming RFPQs, including the composition of additional Gaming Bundles are still being finalized based on feedback OLG received from the RFI process.
The RFPQ process for gaming is the next step in OLG’s Modernization plan. This step will enable OLG to prequalify applicants who would then be eligible to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
OLG has two impartial advisors providing oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.
By modernizing lottery and gaming, OLG will in five years contribute an additional $1.3 billion per year to key public priorities and usher in more than $3 billion dollars in new capital investment in Ontario. In addition, thousands of jobs will be created across the province.
While the new lottery and 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 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.
Interested service providers must respond to the first three RFPQs by March 7, 2013.
OLG will issue the RFPQ for the modernization of lottery shortly. All RFPQs will be available on MERX (www.merx.com/olg). MERX charges a fee to download this type of material.
The following are also available in the media section at www.OLG.ca:
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. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“Know Your Limit. Play Within it”
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
OLG initiated the next phase of the procurement process to modernize gaming in Ontario by issuing Requests for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for Gaming Zones, some of which have been grouped into Gaming Bundles, in three geographic regions of Ontario. Specifically, three RFPQs were issued — one for the Ottawa Area and one each for Gaming Bundles in Eastern Ontario and Northern Ontario:
Gaming Bundle maps are available in the media section of www.OLG.ca.
Interested service providers are required to submit proposals on entire Gaming Bundles, not on individual Gaming Zones or Gaming Sites contained within a Gaming Bundle.
Interested service providers must respond to these RFPQs by March 7, 2013. The RFPQs are available on MERX (http://www.merx.com/olg).
In March 2012, OLG delivered a report to the Minister of Finance, outlining a proposal to modernize lottery and gaming in Ontario. The report contained three key recommendations:
In the spring, OLG initiated a fair and transparent procurement process by releasing two Requests for Information (RFIs) — one for gaming and one for lottery — to solicit feedback from potential service providers.
A Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) will help OLG determine the skills and abilities of potential service providers.
Interested service providers will be asked to submit information on their financial and technical attributes and capabilities, including proof of successful experience with similar projects. In addition, service providers are asked to provide information on any experience and working relationships with First Nations or First Nations communities.
Interested service providers must also have submitted an application for registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The RFPQ process will result in OLG’s procurement department having the ability to identify qualified service providers eligible to receive the RFP documents — the next step in OLG’s procurement process.
In order to effectively manage the gaming market in Ontario, and as part of the Gaming RFI released in May 2012, OLG identified 29 Gaming Zones where existing or new gaming facilities would be permitted, with municipal and other approvals.
Gaming Zones are geographic areas where qualified service providers will be permitted to operate a single gaming facility. The design of these Gaming Zones is intended to manage competition between facilities and ensure a sustainable and efficient gaming market in Ontario. The makeup of each proposed Gaming Zone is subject to change.
Within each Gaming Zone, service providers will be permitted to operate the existing facility, establish a new facility if one does not currently exist, or relocate the existing facility within the boundaries of the Gaming Zone, all subject to approvals.
Based on responses to the Gaming RFI and to enable OLG to more effectively manage the gaming market in Ontario, OLG is grouping some of the 29 Gaming Zones identified in the RFI together into Gaming Bundles — each representing a separate bidding opportunity.
As a result, for some RFPQs, including two of the three released today (Ontario East and North), service providers are being asked to demonstrate their ability to operate multiple facilities in a given region or geographic area of the province.
Gaming Bundles are intended to create opportunities for qualified service providers to be more efficient by operating multiple facilities in a given region. Gaming Bundles will not result in the merging of current or proposed facilities, or of proposed Gaming Zones.
The number and makeup of proposed Gaming Bundles are subject to change. OLG may also, from time to time, modify Gaming Zones that are included in a single Gaming Bundle operated by a single service provider.
Nothing has changed for municipalities included in the Gaming Bundles issued in the first wave of RFPQs. The rules around existing and new sites, as well as the potential for service providers to move existing sites has not changed.
Any proposed new site, or the movement of an existing site, within a municipality would require municipal approval, as well as approval from OLG and the Ontario government.
Gaming Bundles will not affect the hosting fee agreements OLG has negotiated with host municipalities.
OLG will continue its role in conduct, management and oversight, and remain the “operating mind” behind the delivery of gaming in Ontario.
To fulfill this role, OLG will retain control over lottery and gaming, but will expect the service provider to recommend approaches to the operation of the gaming site that could improve customer service, increase gaming revenue, and/or increase net profit to the Province.
OLG will also continue to 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.
OLG will issue RFPQs for the remainder of the Gaming Zones, some in Gaming Bundles, in the coming months. Details pertaining to upcoming RFPQs, including the composition and number of additional Gaming Bundles is still being worked out based on feedback OLG received from the RFI process.
Interested service providers who are prequalified through this process will be invited to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage of the procurement process. The successful service providers for gaming facilities in the areas defined in the Ontario East and North Gaming Bundles will be selected from this group.
OLG will issue the RFPQ for the modernization of lottery shortly.
Disponible en français
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The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has made Chatham-Kent an offer we can’t refuse.
Chatham-Kent council has signed a new agreement with the corporation that runs the slots at the Dresden Raceway. Under the agreement, the municipality will receive 5.25% of the net slot revenue – up from about 5%.
Ottawa’s city council is finally being forced to face up to reality: the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. has little intention of entering into new negotiations over how the province would share its take from any future casino with the city.
Nor does the OLG plan on splitting any of the booty that comes from gaming tables.
Revenue-sharing deal between Town, OLG
As long there are slot machines in Ajax, the cash will continue to flow to the Town in a new revenue-sharing deal with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. It’s a big relief to Ajacians worried about the certainty of the money, an estimated $7 million in the first year of the agreement.
In fact, the Town now has a guarantee that revenue from the facility will not go down.
Ajax council on Nov. 12 approved the contract with OLG, which takes effect April 1, 2013.
WASAGA BEACH – Council has determined four sites they will recommend to host a gaming facility.
During Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, councillors ranked potential sites for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s proposed 300-slot machine facility for Zone C7.
The Planning Department staff reviewed eight potential sites and two more parties came forward expressing interest in hosting the gaming facility, resulting in the list of 10 locations council reviewed.
Point Edward has entered into a formal revenue sharing agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The village will continue to receive 5.25 per cent of quarterly slots revenue. Village CAO Jim Burns says the formal, written document expands upon a previous “handshake” agreement with the OLG.
WASAGA BEACH – Council is split on whether or not a casino should be located in the east or west.
When asked to rank their preferred locations, if a casino is to be built in Wasaga Beach, three council members gave priority to properties on River Road West and three gave priority to properties located on Highway 26.
Wasaga Beach councillors aren’t finished talking about a casino.
Councillors still need to discuss possible locations in town at Tuesday’s meeting.
Over the next weeks and months citizens of Toronto will decide on whether or not the city accepts a new casino within its boundaries.
As president of Carpenters Local 27, an organization that has been active for 130 years in Toronto, I believe it’s both relevant and proper that we contribute our voice and experience to this debate.
Ajax residents can breathe a sigh of relief, now that the Town has a new, more lucrative, revenue-sharing agreement with OLG Slots at Ajax Downs.
The contract with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation was approved by Ajax council Nov. 12, and takes effect April 1, 2013.
Hamilton council will soon get its wish for potential casino bidders to step up and reveal their plans to the public.
A grassroots no-casino campaign launched by two sisters and their cousin in an Etobicoke living room has grown to include heavy-hitters from arts, business and academia who will gather weekly in a downtown office.
The city is hoping private companies will publicize their proposals for a new casino before it consults the public about the controversial new gaming facility.
While all the proposals for a new Toronto casino thus far have seen the resort located in the core of the city, the Chief Executive of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Rod Phillips has now said that the OLG “is not wedded to Toronto”.
According Phillips, the OLG is also open to the idea of locating the planned casino outside the city, and said that there could even be advantages to constructing the casino at any of the areas in the running, namely Vaughan, Mississauga or Markham.
Is Mississauga back on the front burner in the search for a GTA casino site?
It would appear so, after a speech made yesterday in Toronto by Ontario Lottery Corporation CEO Rod Phillips.
Ottawa city council has approved a new revenue sharing deal with Ontario Lottery and Gaming.
Under the agreement, the city is expected to receive about $1.3 million more in revenue from the slot machines at the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
After nine months of intensely wooing Toronto, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. says it’s “not wedded” to the city as a casino host and might pull more revenue out of another GTA location.
In what seemed to be a warning to Torontonians to get behind the casino push or miss a huge economic opportunity, OLG chief executive Rod Phillips made the argument Tuesday to a packed business luncheon.
Ontario’s lottery agency is hedging its bet on a Toronto casino, suggesting now that a location outside the city might produce more profit for the province.
If Toronto were to give the green light to a casino, the Medical Officer of Health says the city should impose restrictions — everything from banning alcohol at card tables to prohibiting ATM machines — in order to minimize the health impacts.
The province’s gambling agency has extended the city’s timeline to make a crucial decision about a new casino.
But councillors on the gaming subcommittee remain deeply divided about the future of gambling in Hamilton.
Do township residents want a casino in their backyard?
They’ll have a chance to ask questions and share their thoughts about a potential casino at a public meeting on Nov. 20.
Wasaga Beach councillors think the town should welcome a 300 slot gaming facility.
At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting — members of council voted 6 to 1 to let the OLG know they want the town to be a host site for a casino in the area.
Many city councillors feel they’re being forced to sign a new casino agreement with the OLG that they don’t like.
And that’s despite the fact that the city might get up to an additional $250,000 a year in revenue.
After a day-long debate Monday, the executive committee has given the green light to public consultations on the prospect of opening a casino in Toronto. Those consultations will begin soon: a report on the results is due back at City Hall by February or March.
Unfortunately, however, Torontonians won’t get to find out exactly how much the city stands to make from a casino before they’re asked to give their opinions on whether we should allow one.
The City of Toronto will consult with residents about the potential development of a casino, though it is not yet clear precisely how much revenue could be generated for the city if the concept were to move forward.
The executive committee agreed Monday night to arrange for public consultations to be held in the months ahead.
Toronto’s city manager hopes to give Torontonians a “refined range” of revenue the city would get in exchange for hosting a casino when it embarks on public consultations this winter, but an exact figure is not expected until city council makes a decision in February or March.
According to new video testimonials from a number of OntarioPolice Chiefs, there has been no evidence that a casino’s presence increases crime over the two decades that casino gaming has been available in Ontario.
“We have an excellent relationship with the OLG Slots at Dresden Raceway,” said Dennis Poole, Chief of Police for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. “Certainly from a policing perspective it has not been an issue and the municipality has benefited from the slots being in Dresden. We average about 20 calls per year to that facility, but that is no more than the average mall or average large department store in our community.”
The video clips include a statement by Brantford Police Chief, Jeff Kellner. Prior to the opening of OLG Casino Brantford in 1999, Kellner recalls concerns were common that a gaming facility would increase the local crime rate, but notes that those concerns never materialized.
“We were concerned as a police service,” said Kellner. “But the overall impact, as it relates to crime, has been very insignificant in our community.”
This has also been the experience of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who provide policing services inside many gaming facilities across the province.
“We have not seen an increase in crime,” said OPP Chief Superintendent, Fred Burtucca. “In fact, the facilities are very well run. We have a very close relationship with the security and surveillance people located at the site and we’re able to respond immediately to any situation that happens.”
Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee wants to hear whether the public is willing to bet on a casino.
Councillors on the committee heard from more than 40 speakers before voting to order city officials to push ahead with a plan to consult the public about establishing a gambling complex in Toronto.
Torontonians will have their say on a casino, but they won’t know exactly how much money is in it for the city when they do.
Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee gave the green light Monday to formal consultations on whether to embrace a new gambling palace – before the province and the city reach a crucial revenue-sharing agreement.
Collingwood councillors could be in for a long night.
The big topic of conversation at Monday’s meeting is whether Collingwood should host a 300 slot gaming facility.
Barrie residents could be flush with choices to comment on a downtown casino.
City staff have provided councillors with a memo detailing how citizens can use Barrie’s website, mail and e-mail, as well as attend a special meeting to voice their opinions on a gambling site as part of a hotel/convention/conference centre in the core.
Busy times ahead for Wasaga Beach council.
Councillors will discuss public comment from the two casino meetings held in the town and from the survey that’s on the town website at a Committee of the Whole meeting next Tuesday evening.
Is there a business case for a casino in Barrie?
And if so, is the revenue from a city casino worth the social consequences of gambling?
Councillor Joe Gardhouse believes it would be a mistake for Collingwood Council to turn down a casino.
Council will have the opportunity to say yes or no to the casino question on Monday.
Using an online survey to ask Barrie residents if the city should host a downtown casino is too risky, councillors say.
The city’s council believes using open houses to gather input to pass on to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is a safer bet.
If Toronto could extract the right deal from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), revenues from a casino in downtown Toronto could permanently fill Toronto’s structural deficit.
That was the word Monday from Toronto’s City Manager Joe Pennachetti, following the release of his report on the economic impact of a casino on Toronto’s economy. The report will be going to Mayor Rob Ford’s Executive Committee Nov. 5 and from there will likely be public consultations before council finally deals with the question of whether to allow casino gambling – probably in February or March.
Using an online survey to ask Barrie residents if the city should host a downtown casino is too risky, councillors say.
The city’s council believes using open houses to gather input to pass on to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is a safer bet.
Toronto’s city council asked for a report on the economic impact of a new casino before voting for or against the idea. Its version of our city council finance committee is going to take a look at it Nov. 5, with a council vote due Nov. 27.
If Toronto welcomes a new destination casino, the municipal government could win a jackpot big enough to fix its money woes for good, the city’s top bureaucrat says.
City manager Joe Pennachetti’s office released a highly anticipated report Monday that estimated the municipality could reap as much as $195-million per year – on top of a one-time sale or lease of city-owned land – from an integrated resort casino near the waterfront.
Today, two reports were released by the city of Toronto on the benefits and considerations of an integrated gaming entertainment centre in Toronto.
“Both the reports prepared by the City Manager’s Office and Ernst & Young confirm that an integrated gaming entertainment centre in Toronto would create thousands of jobs and bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue,” said Rod Phillips, President & CEO of OLG. “Public consultations are the necessary next step and we’re pleased they have been recommended. OLG has been clear from the outset that we will only go to municipalities that want a facility. So far, 36 other communities across Ontario have expressed interest in either continuing to host, or becoming a new host community’.
You can view Toronto City Manager’s report and the Ernst & Young report on the City of Toronto website.
City manager Joe Pennachetti says a casino could be the solution to Toronto’s annual budget woes — if it can convince the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to pay the city a premium for hosting a large-scale development downtown.
Signalling that the current revenue-sharing formula the OLG has in place is unacceptable, city staff have drawn up two alternative scenarios for a downtown “integrated entertainment complex” that could pour $106-million to $168-million a year into municipal coffers.
Deal Barrie in for a downtown casino?
City councillors will consider a motion Monday to conduct an online survey about establishing a gaming site, with slot machines and gambling tables, as part of a hotel/ convention/conference centre in the core.
Re: Keep a casino out of this region — Oct. 24
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. wants to ensure that communities have the information they need to encourage dialogue and make informed decisions, based on facts.
The fact is, a majority of the gaming corporation’s customers are educated, middle to high-income earners who play responsibly. Your editorial repeats an often-cited claim about the customers who play our games. However, this information is based on a very limited study completed close to 10 years ago. In their 2004 study, The Demographic Sources of Ontario Gaming Revenue, Robert Williams and Richard Wood themselves acknowledge the limitations of their findings, saying they are based on a very small sample size of 32 problem gamblers.
We provide a form of entertainment and we want our customers to use an affordable portion of their disposable income to play our games. We do not want problem gamblers to use our products or play in our facilities.
Richmond Hill is exploring the possibility of bringing a casino to town.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is eyeing several potential “gaming zones”, including one in Richmond Hill, and town council has asked staff to learn more about what that would entail.
Business community members voiced a strong desire to have Wasaga council approve the proposed casino during a public consultation meeting.
Nearly 300 members of the community headed to the RecPlex on Wednesday, Oct. 24 to hear from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming, ask questions, and address council members about the proposed 300-slot machine facility.
Toronto’s Port Lands is no place to put a casino, says Waterfront Toronto, the agency responsible for transforming the sprawling industrial site into a mixed-use community.
The lakeside area at the foot of the Don River is one of a handful of sites frequently mentioned as a possible location for a casino. Mayor Rob Ford has said he favours the Port Lands or Exhibition Place because as a landlord, the city would receive additional revenue.
Kingston’s interest in hosting a casino comes with a $25,000 gamble.
Councillors will launch a study to determine the best locations to build a gambling facility.
“I don’t think it’s a bad step to take at this time,” remarked Coun. Kevin George.
As part of its Modernization Plan, OLG identified 29 Gaming Zones where there are existing gaming facilities and where there could be new facilities. These Zones are geographic areas where regulated private-sector providers will be allowed to operate a single gaming facility, subject to approvals.
The Gaming Zones will help ensure that 29 gaming facilities are located in areas of the province that will bring gaming entertainment closer to customers, while ensuring the facilities do not compete directly with each other.
The Gaming Zones are not simply lines on a map, but are the result of a study to determine the best areas for gaming inOntario. OLG looked at characteristics (age, gender, income, etc.) of its customers and OLG Winners’ Circle data and analyzed this information using a gravity model to determine the Gaming Zones.
Originally developed by Dr. David Huff at theUniversityofTexasin the 1970s, the gravity model is a common approach used by retailers throughout the world to determine the optimal placement of stores. The model predicts the probability a customer will visit a particular site given its attractiveness, the travel distance to the site and the distance and attractiveness of competing sites.
The final boundaries of the Gaming Zones may change as a result of local needs or information OLG receives during its procurement process. OLG first introduced the concept of Gaming Zones in a June, 7, 2012 news release. Gaming Zone maps can be found here.
If negotiated smartly, Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti says Toronto taxpayers could reap the benefit of $500-million annually in new revenue for city coffers.
And that’s why Mammoliti, who has been a proponent of this concept for years, said that if he has a say, the new Toronto casino resort would be located on the grounds of the CNE.
The city’s coffers are more than $1 million richer, courtesy of a payment from OLG.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued close to $1.16 million in nontax gaming revenue to the city Friday for hosting the slots at Flamboro Downs.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation would be happy to come to Sudbury to answer questions from concerned citizens regarding a new casino development.
All it needs is an invitation from the city.
Gananoque and the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands are hoping that by working together with a united front it will help keep the Thousand Islands OLG Charity Casino here.
A joint meeting between both councils from Gananoque and TLTI last week was set to approve an investment profile for potential investors in the casino as it moves from a public to a private corporation.
According to the World Casino Directory, cities where you can place a wager include such desiccated metropolitan husks as London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Barcelona. Closer to home, we have the Casino de Montréal, which I will readily admit never having visited despite living there for six years.
The possibility of a casino in the area brought a lot of concerned people to a joint public meeting in Wasaga Beach.
As many as 500 people came out to the Rec Plex on Tuesday to hear from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
The city should know by early next year which developers are interested in building a casino in Greater Sudbury.
Ian Wood, the city’s director of economic development, said the latest indication from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is a request for proposals (RFP) should be issued sometime in January. And the RFPs will include detailed proposals of not only who wants to build in Sudbury, but also what they want to build and where.
If the 70 people who turned out for a Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce luncheon is any indication, they wouldn’t mind having a casino in Hamilton.
Mayor Bob Bratina, the keynote speaker at the Oct. 4 event at the Powerhouse Restaurant, conducted an informal vote on whether the city should pursue a casino.
Councillor Ana Bailao says she hasn’t decided yet whether a casino is a good bet. Bailao was the lone member of the Toronto and East York community council not to give a speech Wednesday slamming a downtown casino
“I’m definitely keeping an open mind on the issue,” Bailao told colleagues toward the end of the five-hour meeting. “I honestly think we need more information on the issue and I truly want this information to help me make my decision because my decision is not made.
A casino in the City of Vaughan is not a done deal.
That was the message conveyed as the City of Vaughan recently hosted an Entertainment District and Casino Information Session for residents and businesses at the Hotel Novotel Vaughan.
Ottawa city council voted in favour of signalling to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation its interest in a casino, but many councillors expressed frustration with OLG and the rules it has established for the process.
OLG may have as many as five groups bidding for a casino in the Ottawa area, but the provincial gaming corporation won’t identify the private operators or the locations being discussed.
After repeatedly saying that he would prefer to see a new casino in the city’s core, Mayor Jim Watson backed a bid to ask the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission to consider a casino expansion at the Rideau-Carleton Raceway.
On Oct. 2, the finance and economic development committee indicated it supports in principle the idea of looking at bringing a new casino to Ottawa.
Proponents of building a casino at Sudbury Downs should focus on the economic argument, rather than trying to scare people with the spectre of social ills that have shown not to be a major problem.
City councillors on the brand-new gaming subcommittee have agreed that a combination of phone polls and community forums is the best way to gauge the public’s interest in a casino.
The five members of the subcommittee — Mayor Bob Bratina and councillors Sam Merulla, Terry Whitehead, Rob Pasuta and Judi Partridge — voted Tuesday to pursue both avenues of public engagement.
Politicians, pundits and members of the public came out swinging at a special community council meeting on casinos Wednesday night.
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti called the meeting “illegal” and said the casino debate should be opened to the whole city and not just the Toronto and East York councillors who organized the forum.
When a pro-casino industry group launched a new website Wednesday, its leaders were joined by two surprising bedfellows: The Canadian Auto Workers union and the Service Employees International Union.
The presence of the CAW raised enough eyebrows around city hall that, before the Canadian Gaming Association could hold its 4 p.m. news conference, the CAW’s director of political action sent an e-mail to mollify 16 generally pro-labour councillors.
The debate over a Toronto casino anted up Wednesday.
Councillors on the Toronto and East York Community Council got a largely anti-casino earful Wednesday night while Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti dismissed the whole meeting as “illegal.”
Despite many councillors’ very vocal misgivings, city council decided Wednesday afternoon that Ottawa should have a new casino.
The 19-5 vote to tell the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to seek private-sector bids to build a new casino here was closer than the number suggests: many of the votes in favour of the idea came from councillors who warned the city staffers who’ll work with the OLG to treat the provincial agency and its plans with suspicion.
It’s careful, it’s measured and it’s not too expensive. The biggest question is whether it’s enough.
The city’s gaming subcommittee’s first decision — about ways to garner community input on the critical casino decision — is a reasonable one. It falls far short of the sweeping nature of a referendum, but it makes it clear our elected officials understand the seriousness of gauging community support for a casino in Hamilton, regardless of where it may or may not end up.
In the wake of Kingston City Council voting against allowing casino expansion into its downtown core, Ottawa City Council, which has a similar vote scheduled for Wednesday, October 10, is now under more pressure to examine the issue more thoroughly before making a hasty decision.
The votes are in and it seems clear Ottawa city council is poised to give the green light for a new casino in the nation’s capital.
Where it will go, what it will look like, and what it will include, well, it seems this council is ready to gamble on all of that.
Listen to the clash of claims on city council and you won’t come close to understanding what’s really going on in the current casino debate.
Some councillors say that voting for a new gambling facility this week would really give them a chance to get more information. Others act as if the entire issue is already out of their hands.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about where the city should put a new casino.
In Sunday’s Ottawa Sun, columnists Anthony Furey and Susan Sherring went head-to-head in a rural vs. city debate.
A pair of local Liberal MPPs aren’t playing a hand in the Ottawa casino game.
Ottawa Centre’s Yasir Naqvi said it’s City Hall’s decision where a gaming house should be located.
Sometimes the easiest solution is really the best.
Of course, it’s no surprise city council is straying from the best solution, and in the course of all of that, whipping its residents into a frenzy — and leaving individual councillors to fend for themselves.
Stafford Bingo Country will be getting a 21st-century facelift some time in early 2013, as the venerable gaming establishment gets set to move to an “e-gaming” model of play.
According to Tom Aikins, regional manager at Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment, the parent company that also owns bingo halls in Barrie, Penetanguishene and Hawkesbury, the hall was recently bumped up to the first wave of 15 locations across the province to receive the electronic machines from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). This means that as early as January, players can expect to be using computers to take some of the manual labour out of the game, although not entirely.
The decision as to whether a casino can be built in Kingston may ultimately be decided by residents if a current bill at Queen’s Park is passed.
Monte McNaughton, the member of provincial parliament for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, tabled a private member’s bill in the spring that would make it necessary for a municipality to hold a referendum before a casino can be built.
Despite the ethical hand-wringing that will inevitably accompany the mayor’s announcement last week that Ottawa will entertain any proposals from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to build a casino in the city, it is the right way to move forward on this issue.
Casinos have been a reality in Ontario since 1994, in the capital region since 1996 and there have been slot machines at the Rideau Carleton Raceway since 2000, meaning residents of this city have had plenty of opportunity to gamble for more than a decade. Getting squeamish about gambling at this point is a little naive – gaming arrived in Ontario nearly 20 years ago.
OLG is teaming up with the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA) and the Commercial Gaming Association of Ontario (CGAO) to revitalize the charitable bingo and gaming industry in Ontario.
Complementing traditional paper-based bingo and other games, OLG is using modern technology to develop and introduce new products to invigorate the bingo experience and attract new players to charitable bingo centres across thehttp://www.modernolg.ca/olgs-plan/ province.
The new product offerings will include: Electronic Bingo (eBingo), Break Open Ticket Dispensers, Electronic Instants, Rapid Draw Bingo, and Electronic Shutterboard.
Over eight years of operation, this initiative is expected to deliver about $475 million in much-needed funding to Ontario charities, while also helping to sustain hundreds of part-time jobs.
So far, this initiative has been successfully implemented at six bingo centres across Ontario. Together, those centres have raised more than $43 million to support over 500 local charities – which include children’s groups, and environmental and health services organizations.
In July, Boardwalk Gaming Centre Sudbury, one of the six initial bingo centres, was the first to reach the $10 million milestone. The increased ability to draw customers is benefiting the 98 community organizations that fundraise at this facility.
One of those organizations is the Banque d’Aliments Sudbury Food Bank. As a result of its charitable gaming partnership with the Boardwalk Gaming Centre, Banque d’Aliments Sudbury Food Bank is able to provide over one million items of food annually to individuals and families who need support in the Sudbury area.
OLG recently launched a public awareness campaign including print and radio advertisements, to inform Ontarians about its plans to revitalize the charitable bingo and gaming industry.
For more information about this initiative, visit “How Will Charitable Gambling Change?”.
Mayor Jim Watson is backing a new casino for Ottawa and he’ll ask the rest of city council to do the same.
The mayor took to Twitter to announce his support for an Ottawa casino on Sept. 24.
A new study on gambling in Kingston suggests a casino represents a winning hand for the local economy.
The study, commissioned by the city’s economic development agency KEDCO, looked at the potential economic impact if Kingston were to host either a stand-alone or resort style casino. The results may play into the hands of supporters of a casino who say it would give Kingston a welcome boost in tourism, jobs and local spending.
City council has voted to support a casino development in Kenora, so long as it’s a “destination.”
A resolution to continue discussions with the province regarding a casino development passed with a 5-2 vote on Thursday, provided the 300-slot gambling venue is connected to a hotel and conference centre. Council instructed city staff to begin searching for suitable real estate and it intends to begin lobbying the province to determine funding availability to absorb the anticipated social cost.
If full council also gives its support, it would allow the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to issue a request for proposals this fall inviting proponents to submit bids.
Once the RFP process is completed and a winning bidder is selected, the public would have the opportunity to provide more feedback at a future city committee meeting in
The casino debate has ignited a fire we have not seen in Hamilton since the great Pan Am stadium debacle. Once again the city is split down the middle on a key issue involving not only downtown, but the rest of this city. No wonder. The record shows why Hamiltonians have little confidence in how this city conducts its business.
That seems to be changing of late and we have to give credit where credit is due. There appears to be more synergy than ever between city staff, elected officials and business.
Municipalities are considering their interest in hosting a new OLG gaming facility. Hamilton, which already hosts a gaming facility, is discussing its role in OLG’s modernization plan. OLG wants to ensure communities have the information they need to encourage dialogue and make informed decisions.
Let’s be clear.
Ottawa is well on its way to getting a sparkling new casino.
The debate over gambling is over, whether residents like it or not.
Despite dire warnings against the idea, a city council committee has recommended that Ottawa support in principle the establishment of a new, full-fledged casino in the nation’s capital.
About 200 people packed city council chambers Tuesday night to hear the pros and cons of locating a full-fledged casino in Ottawa, with warnings about increased crime and gambling addiction compete with economic benefits and more revenues for municipal coffers.
Collingwood council has decided to consult the public on whether the town should host a casino.
Councillor Joe Gardhouse put forward a motion with several parts including identifying possible locations in town, holding a public meeting, developing a survey for public comment and then letting OLG know of the town’s intentions by the November 16th deadline
The city’s top doc is “genuinely pleased” council will ask Ottawa public health for advice on a new casino but it’s too early to say if the agency will take a position in the debate.
“I don’t know at this point. We would have to look at it,” Dr. Isra Levy said Monday.
Councillors are lining up to support the idea of a casino in Ottawa, even if they aren’t sure they’ll vote for a specific proposal in the end.
Most emphasize that they haven’t made up their minds, because a meeting of city council’s finance committee Tuesday night is supposed to be about consulting the public before a vote. Nevertheless, they all have views they would have to be talked out of.
Mayor Jim Watson will ask council to endorse a new gaming facility for Ottawa. With that in mind, our weekly ottawasun.com survey focuses on the casino issue.
Despite assurances from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation that no decision has to be made on the casino file until the end of the calendar year, a vote on whether to pursue the project further or get out of the game is on the agenda for Tuesday night’s city council meeting. City staff have recommended that council vote in favour of continuing the discussion.
A casino in Hamilton, preferably downtown, must be seriously considered and vigorously pursued. The key to success and resuscitating Hamilton is getting people downtown — to live, to work, to shop and to play. To do this, the downtown must attract people.
A casino in downtown Hamilton will create a myriad of good paying jobs during the construction and/or renovation phase. Resulting from this will be a substantial net increase in the number of good paying jobs (i.e. people) who will work downtown. Like the automobile industry, it is not just the plant workers but the support industries that benefit from the presence of the manufacturing plant.
Casino decision day could be this Tuesday – or maybe not.
A city staff report is recommending that councillors consider voting “in principle” to bring a casino to Kingston and move on to the next stage of a process begun by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
If the casino vote is called on Tuesday night, you can be sure city councillors will have an enduring tape loop playing in their heads: “Don’t blow it this time.”
In other words, you have a shot at easy money – casino revenues of about $3 million a year – and this time Kingston must take the plunge.
Mayor Jim Watson is backing a new casino for Ottawa and he’ll ask the rest of city council to do the same.
The mayor announced his support for an Ottawa casino on Sept. 24 on Twitter.
Councillors Jason Farr and Terry Whitehead are reaching out to residents for their take on a downtown casino.
The downtown and Mountain-area councillors have both conducted automated phone polls asking residents if they support the idea. They also asked residents whether they support a gaming facility in Hamilton at all.
The man tasked with bringing the province an extra one billion dollars a year in gaming revenues made his casino pitch to Kingston.
“There are plenty of willing hosts,” said Rod Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
OLG is proud of the support it provides to local economies in its 24 host municipalities across Ontario. In 2011-12 alone, host municipalities received more than $110 million in funds.
To hear what Mayors are saying about their community’s partnership with OLG, visit the video section of this site.
Over the years, host municipalities have used revenue from OLG facilities to build infrastructure, invest in culture and create local jobs.
In Ajax, the town used approximately $7.4 million in contributions from OLG Slots at Ajax Downs to help build a new state-of-the-art, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Operations Centre.
Mayor Steve Parish says that, for the people of Ajax, the partnership with OLG, “gets right to the bottom line of the financial viability of our municipality and the quality of life in our municipality. So, it’s been a win-win for us and a real positive.”
Since OLG Slots at Ajax Downs opened in 2006, the town has received more than $31 million from slot revenues.
In Innisfil, funds from OLG Slots at Georgian Downs were used by the Town to help build a $40 million recreation complex, in addition to other capital projects.
“We’ve also been able to build the town hall…some library branches have been fast-tracked, as have some fire halls,” says Mayor Barb Baguley.
Since OLG Slots at Georgian Downs opened, Innisfil has received more than $45 million from slot revenues.
The Town of Hanover has used revenue it has received to invest in local culture.
“We really like to support culture in our town,” says Mayor Kathi Maskell, “so we renovated our century-old theatre – even used the money for new drapes, new seats, new air conditioning, and so on.”
Through its “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario” plan, OLG is taking steps to ensure the lottery and gaming industry in Ontario is sustainable and will continue to provide support to the Province and Ontario communities for future generations.
As the debate over a casino ramps up, gaming experts and researchers say the factors that Hamilton should consider for decision-making are pretty clear cut.
Bill Rutsey, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, and Dr. Robert Williams, one of Canada’s pre-eminent researchers on the social impact of gambling, agree there’s a major ripple effect when a casino is approved. But they represent opposing perspectives on whether gaming brings benefits, or generates problems the city might not want to face.
Like many Hamiltonians, I am a casual gambler.
How do I define a “casual gambler?” Occasional poker games with friends at each others’ houses where the stakes are moderate and the laughter is excessive would be one part of it. Another might include dinner followed by visits to one of Niagara’s casinos for a monthly (more or less) contribution to the one-eyed bandits or blackjack tables. A third, much rarer, part of the definition might include a trip to Las Vegas or as I did just recently, to Lake Tahoe, Nev., also a gambling destination. (This was my first visit to spectacular Tahoe and I’ve only been to Vegas three times, once for a wedding, so these trips are infrequent indeed.)
Councillors have named the members of a new subcommittee that will handle the thorny issue of a new casino.
Mayor Bob Bratina — who suggested the subcommittee — along with councillors Terry Whitehead, Robert Pasuta, Judi Partridge and Sam Merulla will be charged with determining what a casino in Hamilton should look like.
The debate about whether Hamilton should open a new casino downtown has gripped city hall. Proposals and motions abound as councillors grapple with whether the city should open the door to a new gambling facility.
Here are the key players to watch as the city nears a conclusion.
Wasaga Beach may not be the only area municipality interested in hosting a casino.
Collingwood councillor Joe Gardhouse has put forward a notice of motion to look into the possibility of a casino in town.
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said he’ll ask city council to signal interest in a new gaming facility, a move that would allow the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to seek proposals from potential operators.
Watson, who made the announcement through Twitter, said OLG has not proposed or short-listed a location and said council holds final approval on zoning, which would come after the request-for-proposals process.
Mayor Jim Watson is backing a new casino for Ottawa, on the condition that the money it generates for the city be spent on infrastructure projects and economic development.
Watson has previously made positive noises about the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s desire to expand beyond its slot machines at the Rideau Carleton Raceway in the south end, but took to Twitter Monday afternoon to make his support explicit.
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Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said he’ll ask city council to signal interest in a new gaming facility, a move that would allow the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to seek proposals from potential operators.
Watson, who made the announcement through Twitter, said OLG has not proposed or short-listed a location and said council holds final approval on zoning, which would come after the request-for-proposals process.
Toronto politicians have to decide by early 2013 whether to allow a new casino in the city.
OLG Chairman Paul Godfrey warned Friday that time is running out. The provincial gambling agency needs to know within a few months, he said, noting that plenty of other Ontario municipalities would be glad to have the casino if Toronto says no.
Toronto will lose out on a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity if it rejects building a new casino and entertainment complex in the city core, OLG chair Paul Godfrey warned Friday.
His pitch to the Toronto Board of Trade comes three weeks before East York holds a public forum about the possibility of a downtown casino, and two months before the city’s executive committee debates the issue, which has generated stiff opposition among some residents and councillors.
Response to Hamilton Mayor and Members of Council
On Thursday, September 20, Larry Flynn, Senior Vice President Gaming, OLG, sent a letter to Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina in response to a question raised during OLG’s presentation to the General Issues Committee of Council.
Letter from Rod Phillips, President and CEO, OLG, to City of Toronto Members of Council
On Wednesday, September 19, Rod Phillips, President and CEO, OLG, sent a letter to City of Toronto members of Council about OLG’s Modernization plan.
A simple survey showing that more than half of Vaughan residents polled would be in favour of building a casino at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) was enough to set the crowd off at a recent information session.
Before that point, participants from the community had been orderly and calm. But when the floodgates opened, there was no holding back the crowd, many of whom saw the presentation as a marketing tool designed to persuade them on the merits of locating a casino in Vaughan.
Coulter Osborne, a retired judge and formerly Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner, has a new job keeping the province’s casino expansion on the straight and narrow.
He has been appointed as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s first-ever “independent fairness advisor,” charged with overseeing the procurement process that will mean a dramatic expansion of casinos across the province, including in the Greater Toronto Area.
“I call him the fairness czar,” Rod Phillips, president and chief executive of OLG, said in an interview.
“We want the process to unfold in a way that is fair and transparent and gets the outcomes that the province wants.”
“I don’t claim any particular knowledge of the industry itself,” Osborne told QP Briefing. “I come at it from the outside, in.
“The procurement process is going to be ongoing for some time. Part of the exercise is to ensure that the entire process is fair and no potential proponent or actual proponent is disadvantaged by the RFP (Request For Proposals) when it gets issued or by any aspect of the over all process.”
Osborne, 78, was formerly a judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal and Associate Chief Justice of Ontario.
In retirement Osborne has been as busy as ever. He has done work for all levels of government, having looked over the procurement process at Union Station for the City of Toronto and school transportation procurement and civil justice review for the Ontario government.
He also arbitrated a dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Postal Workers for the federal government.
Osborne said he is proud that virtually all of his recommendations arising from his civil justice review were adopted by the government.
But he does have one regret.
“My mandate did not include family law, which is a very important,” he said. “I think it deserves a look but that is a political decision that will have to be made.”
Being a “go-to guy” isn’t a term he applies to himself but Osborne does not disagree with it.
“It has turned out that way but it wasn’t as a result of any great planning on my part. It just happened,” he said. “So it turned out I am reasonably busy.”
Osborne is from Hamilton but practised law in Kitchener before his appointment to the bench in 1978.
His legal career was met with a diversion at the outset.
Osborne was a member of the 1956 Canadian Olympic basketball team, playing guard.
He missed most of the first term of his second year in law school training in Vancouver and then attending the Olympics in Melbourne. He kept up with class as best he could, cracking his law books at night and getting lecture notes mailed to him by classmates.
“It was an important diversion in my life, at least temporarily.”
Canada did not win a medal in 1956. In fact there has been a medal drought since Canada’s only men’s basketball medal, a silver, in 1936. But Osborne is hopeful that NBA great Steve Nash, as the new general manager of the Canada’s national basketball team, will turn things around.
Is it possible his next assignment could be giving some basketball advice? Not likely, Osborne said.
“Steve probably needs some help but he seems to have been successful in getting the good players to commit to the program, which has been a problem in the past.”
After the Olympics, Osborne’s basketball activities have been limited to coaching kids and playing on a YMCA team.
“The last time I had a basketball in my hands was probably shooting hoops in the driveway with my grandson or granddaughter, which would be a few years ago now since they are both in university.”
As the OLG’s fairness advisor, Osborne has been busy familiarizing himself with the OLG as an organization and with the corporation’s casino expansion plans.
He has already reviewed its Request For Information process. Next up will be the Request for Proposals process that will lead to the selection of operators for the new casinos.
“People are much more alert to the concerns about making things fair and above board and transparent. I think there is a greater awareness than there was say 10 years ago.”
He is also available to advise OLG board members and staff about possible conflicts of interest.
“Who should pick up the tab for lunch or should there even be a lunch?” Osborne said.
“I hope it ensures that the process is as transparent and fair and that it makes sense in the final analysis. That’s the idea anyway.”
City councillors will not have to make a decision on bringing a casino to town before the end of the year, according to the top official at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
CEO and president Rod Phillips told Mayor Mark Gerretsen that his organization would also supply Kingston with the projected possible proceeds from a casino in the next two weeks.
North Bay politicians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing a casino in the city.
After months of public debate surrounding the affect of increased gambling on the community, council members showed their cards Monday, voting 10-1 in support of working with a private operator and Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) to bring a gaming facility to North Bay.
City staff is recommending council move ahead to bring a casino to North Bay, but with a lengthy list of conditions.
“There are far more questions than there are answers,” said North Bay CAO Jerry Knox during Monday night’s Council committee meeting, “and the lack of consultation with the province is disturbing.”
Wasaga Beach council is looking to gauge public support for a casino and figure out if it has any competition from surrounding municipalities.
Working within a six-week deadline, council is looking to set up a formal way of gathering public input on the casino issue.
It could be a year or two before the betting begins in North Bay if council votes Monday in favour of allowing a casino in the city.
Odds are municipal politicians will be saying yes to the possibility of a gaming facility, which means Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) can officially start looking for private-sector proponents wanting to build and operate it.
A casino information session last night turned into a shouting match at times as residents and community stakeholders shared their often boisterous and passionate opinions with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) staff and market research company Pollara.
Plans to expand casino gambling is on track with communities across the province lining up to host a new casino, says the head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
“In general there has been a very favourable response,” OLG president and chief executive Rod Phillips said in an interview.
“This is not to say there are not public meetings and discussion, and any time you’re talking about gaming you’re going to have both sides of the argument.”
OLG has divided the province into 29 gaming zones, only five of which have not previously had an OLG facility.
There is no requirement for a referendum in those five zones.
Regulation 81/12 under the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999, requires only that the municipal council pass a resolution that shows support and demonstrates that it sought public input before the resolution.
“Nobody has to have a referendum because there is no requirement for a referendum,” Phillips said.
“Every time you have this conversation it is an emotional issue, and there is going to be both sides of these conversations.”
So far 32 communities have indicated support for a casino, either by hosting a gaming facility in the past or by passing a fresh resolution. More communities are expected to follow suit.
Toronto is still a question mark but the process is moving forward with a report scheduled to go to the City of Toronto’s executive committee in November.
“They will begin that discussion and council will decide what they want to do and if it makes sense for them,” Phillips said.
“It is clear a downtown facility in Canada’s largest city, and in one of North America’s largest city, would be a great entertainment offering and could be a great value creator for the city, the province and the citizens of Toronto.”
However, the zone that includes Toronto also includes Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Markham, and Vaughan is seeking to be included in the Toronto zone. So it seems all but certain a new casino will located somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area.
The OLG is still working through the Request for Information process that was issued earlier this year. A Request For Qualifications process will be launched later this year followed by a Request for Proposals sometime next year. That process will lead to the selection of the operators within a particular zone.
Here is a list of municipalities that are clearly in support of hosting a casino as of Sept 14, 2012:
Support from existing host municipalities (20 that already benefit from the slot revenue)
1. Ajax
2. Brantford
3. Cavan-Monaghan (Kawartha)
4. Central Huron (Clinton)
5. Centre-Wellington (Grand River)
6. Chatham-Kent (Dresden)
7. Gananoque (Thousand Islands)
8. Leeds and the Thousand Islands
9. Hamilton (Flamboro)
10. Hanover
11. Innisfil (Georgian)
12. London (Western Fair)
13. Milton (Mohawk)
14. Ottawa (Rideau)
15. Point Edward
16. Sault Ste. Marie
17. Sudbury
18. Thunder Bay
19. Toronto (Woodbine)
20. Woodstock
Support from other municipalities identified in a zone:
21. Whitby
22. Halton Hills
23. Woolwich
24. St. Thomas
25. Belleville
26. Quinte West
27. Clarence-Rockland
Support from municipalities not identified in a zone but seeking to be included:
28. Town of Midland
29. Elliot Lake
30. Timmins
31. South Stormont
32. Cornwall
The list includes all communities with an existing OLG facility plus some that don’t yet have one and some that want one but are not in a zone. The 29 zones cover more than one municipality so the number of communities eligible to host a casino is higher than 29 and will grow over time.
Not included on this list are Niagara Falls and Windsor as those sites are not part of the RFP process because the OLG has already has multi-year contracts with the operators of the casinos there.
What’s a bid for a gaming facility in Whitby without an element of risk?
That could be the question Whitby residents are asking after Town officials spurned an offer from neighbouring Ajax for 15 per cent of existing gaming revenue from its established slots facility and chose instead to go all in on a bid to be the sole host for a new provincial casino in Whitby.
We should know before the end of this year whether City Council supports building a casino in the Capital.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is currently reviewing future plans and locations.
Monday’s presentation by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Kenora OPP detachment and Gambling Addictions counsellors are now available for reading, for those who weren’t able to make the information session.
The city is also providing an on-line survey, including a comments section, so that people can provide their feedback before the Oct. 4 deadline for making a decision
As part of OLG’s robust and innovative Responsible Gambling program, OLG is launching the third annual “It Pays to Know” kiosk promotion. Interactive kiosks will be set up in gaming sites across the province where players learn about how our games work and are encouraged to use smart play habits.
The program features a Responsible Gambling trivia game where all participants, regardless of their scores, are entered into a draw to win a grand prize ($500 Home & Leisure gift card) at each gaming site. This year’s promotion will run from September until January.
The results from last year’s campaign were very strong with positive feedback from consumers and participants. Over the 88 days of the promotion, more than 46,000 players completed the touch screen experience.
OLG has been recognized by the World Lottery Association with the highest level of certification for excellence in its Responsible Gambling programs. As the province’s lottery and gaming industry transforms through modernization, OLG will continue to apply greater focus on the prevention and mitigation of problem gambling including educating players, encouraging healthy play habits and supporting problem gamblers.
Speaking at the Ontario Problem Gambling Research AGM on September 5, 2012, Rod Phillips, President and CEO reiterated OLG’s commitment to Responsible Gambling in the future OLG.
“We must continue to build Responsible Gambling into culture,” said Phillips. “We will include comprehensive Responsible Gambling details in our contracts with future service providers and we will ensure that they deliver against those requirements.”
As outlined in “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, OLG will direct and require operators of lottery channels and gaming sites to exceed regulatory compliance standards. OLG will provide operators with strategic and tactical support, performance evaluations, incentives and plans for improvement.
Whitby council is letting the chips fall where they may following a decision to pass on Ajax’s offer to share 15 per cent of its future casino revenues with the town.
At a special meeting on Sept. 10, members voted 6-2 in favour of snubbing the offer from Ajax and declaring Whitby a willing host for a gaming facility to be regulated by the Province of Ontario
Kenora is at a crossroads as city council ponders its response and responsibilities to an invitation by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission to become a host community for a new gaming facility. The municipality is eligible to receive one of five new casino licenses that will bring the total number of communities with gaming facilities up to 29 province-wide.
Kenora council has already identified concerns residents have with a proposed casino, two including policing and the social ramifications.
In addition to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLGC) presentation, Kenora OPP Inspector Dave Lucas provided a overview of the potential increase in criminal activity relating to casinos operations based on the experience of other police services in cities with a casino, primarily Thunder Bay, and Sheila Toderian, from the ASK Gambling program, outlined concerns with problem gambling
It’s crunch time in the process to consider a 300 slot casino for the area.
At a special Committee of the Whole meeting in Wasaga Beach on Tuesday night, councillors discussed moving forward.
But the deadline to apply to OLG for consideration is the end of October.
You’d have to be pretty humourless not to quirk a smile at Dwight Duncan’s sly dig at Andrea Horwath in the legislature the other day.
The leader of the New Democrats and MPP for Hamilton Centre had just called on Premier Dalton McGuinty to direct the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to stop meeting with city officials until Hamiltonians hold a referendum to decide whether they want a casino.
A new poll from Ottawa’s largest horse racing association shows the majority of residents want to support the horse racing industry by keeping slots at the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
The survey, commissioned last Thursday by the National Capital Region Harness Horse Association, also shows 61% of Ottawans want to see more gaming options at race tracks, including gaming tables like roulette, blackjack and poker.
Hamilton’s casino debate has been taken up at Queen’s Park.
NDP Leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath raised the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s push to modernize its operations in Question Period Monday, encouraging the Dalton McGuinty Liberals to hold off on discussions about a new casino until the city can hold a referendum.
City staff is recommending that council tentatively say yes to a casino.
The recommendation, which goes before municipal politicians next week for a vote, calls for an endorsement from the city for a new gaming facility in North Bay, but with some conditions.
Whitby council is letting the chips fall where they may following a decision to pass on Ajax’s offer to share 15 per cent of its future casino revenues with the town.
At a special meeting on Sept. 10, members voted 6-2 in favour of snubbing the offer from Ajax and declaring Whitby a willing host for a gaming facility to be regulated by the Province of Ontario.
Local municipalities are planning to hold a public consultation session to determine if residents support a casino locating in the Georgian Triangle.
Municipal officials, following a closed-door meeting with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation representatives Wednesday, said they plan to hold the meeting in the near future.
If you’d like to know more about a casino for Kenora, then you should be at the rec centre tonight. The information session runs from 6 until 9. Another town hall meeting is set for September 18th. That’s when residents will be allowed to voice their opinions about the idea.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation was pleased to be in North Bay recently to provide information to City Council on our modernization plans. I would like to take this opportunity to provide your readers with facts about our responsible gambling efforts.
At OLG, responsible gambling is a central focus and a driving force behind our business.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp recently identified Kenora as one of 29 zones in the province eligible for the development of a gaming facility.
Eating crow is a hard thing to do. It’s especially indigestible for politicians.
But on the matter of a casino in his town, Brantford mayor Chris Friel is ready to go there. “People are well within their right to say, ‘I told you so.’ And I’d have to take it.”
Right now the province is overhauling the gambling game. It doesn’t want to run the slots and poker tables anymore, but it sure plans to be extracting a big cut from the private interests who take over.
Now that Ajax has finalized its stance on a potential casino development in the community, Whitby council is ready to make a decision on the matter.
The Province is modernizing lottery and gaming in Ontario by establishing 29 gaming zones, including one that includes Pickering, Ajax and Whitby. Only one gaming facility is permitted in each zone. Pickering council has already turned down the proposal while Ajax council has expressed interest in expanding its existing OLG Slots facility.
Ajax is prudently hedging its bets that 15 per cent of its future casino revenue will be enough to ensure a gaming facility stays in the town.
Since the OLG Slots at Ajax Downs opened early in 2006, the facility has provided Ajax with roughly $35 million in non-tax gaming revenue. But the OLG, as part of its modernization of gaming, is setting up private, not government-run, casinos throughout Ontario, including one in a zone which covers Ajax, Pickering and Whitby. If one of those two latter communities were to be chosen for a casino, the Ajax facility would close.
Either in the downtown or near Highway 401.
Those are the two main areas where a privately-operated gambling casino could be allowed under the city’s current Official Plan and zoning rules, according to a new report.
Councillors won’t make a final decision on whether Kingston is even interested in being a host city for a casino until October. However, an advance staff report provides some information on potential locations for a gaming facility.
Ontario’s auditor general will review plans to scrap the Slots at Racetracks program and built urban casinos after Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod successfully carried a motion through the assembly on Aug. 30.
Members from all three political parties supported MacLeod’s private member’s motion asking for a review of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s new gaming and casino plans that would pull slots out of racetracks and build private casinos closer to urban centres.
There’s not enough information to say if a casino in North Bay would leave the city a winner after social costs are covered, a local agency says.
A report by District of Nipissing Social Services Administrative Board staff released Tuesday warns it’s difficult to determine net impact.
There are two ways to build a city: proactively or reactively.
A proactive approach to city building must start with a clear vision: a collective agreement as to what kind of a city we want in the future. The same can be said for Hamilton, and for our downtown.
Is our downtown a creative and cultural industry destination built on a foundation of James North, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and facilities such as Hamilton Place? Is it an office district anchored by financial, legal, and other commercial service firms?
While North Bay council has given itself a deadline to decide on whether it wants a casino or not, other area leaders are watching from the sidelines to see what happens.
“I think any project like this should be a little more regional,” said Callander mayor Hec Lavigne. “We will suffer all of the negatives without any prospect of seeing the positives it could bring.”
NORTH BAY– Brenda Lang is dead set against the opening of a casino in the city.
A gambling addict, Lang told North Bay Council that she had lost everything. “I lost my kids, my home, and my income was taken away. If a casino comes into town then I’ll have to move out,” she said.
Casinos are filled with games of chance.City staff, however, are leaving nothing to chance when it comes to providing information to councillors who will vote in October on whether to clear the way for a casino in Kingston.
Every comment written on the online survey on the city’s website will be part of the information packages going to both city councillors and to the public in the coming weeks.
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 14th, Kingston City Council voted unanimously to gauge more public input on the possibility of the city hosting a gaming facility in Kingston. In its motion, council requested the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) to attend a council meeting. The OLG has now indicated they will give a briefing at the September 18th council meeting.
The odds are stacking up in favour of a casino in North Bay.
A couple of city politicians are still skeptical, but it looks increasingly likely council will approve of a gaming facility in the city.
Some members are clearly stating they’re behind Ontario Lottery and Gaming’s bid to bring a private-sector casino operator to the city, while several others are saying they’re inclined at this point to support the concept, but haven’t yet made up their minds.
Whitby council to discuss proposal Sept. 10
AJAX — Ajax council has offered to share 15 per cent of its future revenue from OLG Slots at Ajax Downs with the Town of Whitby.
The decision was made unanimously during a special council meeting Friday, Aug. 24, and is contingent on Whitby declaring it is not a willing host for an OLG gaming facility.
As part of OLG’s efforts to modernize gaming in Ontario, it is looking to establish privately-operated casinos in 29 zones in Ontario, one of which covers the Ajax, Pickering and Whitby area.
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has come out swinging in favour of a referendum to decide whether Hamilton should have a casino.
In a letter to city council this week, Howarth urges the mayor and councillors to start engaging the community in a “transparent process including a referendum” in connection with current casino discussions and proposals.
In the latest sign of the high-rollers’ interest in a Toronto casino, Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire gambling magnate and Republican megadonor, has paid a personal visit to Mayor Rob Ford.
Mr. Adelson, 79, is the chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., one of at least three Nevada-based gambling empires that have expressed interest since the province announced plans to open a casino in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Hamilton City Council is divided over the prospects for a new casino in the Ontario city.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is making plans for a casino in the Hamilton-Burlington region, but councilors aren’t sure where it should go
Ward 4 Coun. Richard Carpenter wants Brantford to be on record as wanting to keep the OLG Casino at its current location.
Carpenter presented a resolution at Monday’s operations and administration committee asking the province to keep the casino at its present location at the intersection of Market Street and Icomm Drive at the southern edge of the downtown.
City councillors are united about one thing when it comes to the future of gambling in Hamilton: Flamboro Downs comes first.
But they’re divided about whether a downtown casino is a good idea.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced a massive “modernization” earlier this year that includes plans for one casino in the Hamilton/Burlington area. It’s still not clear whether that means Flamboro Downs will remain open — council’s preference — or whether a new facility will be built.
All of the players involved in the North Bay casino debate are expected to lay their cards on the table Wednesday during a public meeting at city hall.
The meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., is aimed at gauging public opinion and helping council decide if it should say yes to a potential casino development.
“We want to hear from anybody who wants to express an opinion for or against,” said Coun. Dave Mendicino, chairman of community services.
An Ontario government report says that redirecting $345 million from the Slots at Racetrack program will create up to 6,700 health and education jobs.
The confidential report is dated March 14 – two days after the decision to end the slots program – and was prepared by Ontario’s Ministry of Finance. It was obtained by a citizen’s freedom of information request and being shared across the province.
Kingston’s go-slow approach to casino gambling isn’t fazing the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Officials with the provincial regulator say they would accept an offer to brief city councillors and appear at a public meeting in Kingston to explain the new direction for privatized casinos.
“We appreciate there are municipalities that may desire to have more time,” said OLG spokesman Don Pister.
There’s certainly no shortage of opportunity for citizens of Kingston to offer their opinions on whether or not the city should try to land a major casino development. City council has hosted a special public meeting. The city is inviting public opinion via a survey on its website, by telephone, by email and by regular post, and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is being asked to hold its own public meeting to ensure Kingstonians understand the process the city is undergoing. There’s certainly been no shortage of opinion in the letters received by this newspaper.
The Mercanti family is talking to gaming operators about the possibility of opening a casino in downtown Hamilton.
Peter Mercanti, owner and operator of Carmen’s banquet centre and adjoining hotel on the east Mountain, says nothing has been decided about a partnership but the family is open to discussions.
In May of this year, the mayor and council approved a resolution that laid the foundation for a program that would add a casino to the list of tourist attractions within the City of Timmins.
The Timmins Economic Development Corporation has taken the helm in the pursuit of continued tourist expansion within the city, spearheading the initiative to bring recreational gambling to Timmins.
Now that the city has definitely cast the die in favour of a casino coming to Belleville, council should not sit back and simply wait for the money to roll in.
It still has work to do. Important work.
Council so far has done the best it can in the face of crazy deadlines from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, including providing an avenue for the public to have its say.
Chatham-Kent council has officially stated its willingness to host a slots/gaming facility within the municipality, but at the August 13 council meeting, stopped short of endorsing Dresden as a potential location.
Coun. Doug Sulman introduced the motion in order to meet criteria outlined by the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Association (OLG) requesting that municipalities declare their willingness to host a facility by September.
A community group is circulating an online petition to ask for a referendum on whether a new casino should be built in Ottawa.
In March the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. signalled its intention to solicit bids for new casinos across the province, including Ottawa.
While there are no concrete plans for a new casino in Ottawa, Friends of Downtown Ottawa want to give residents a say before any concrete proposal or venue is decided.
Gambling on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s interest in the municipality, St. Thomas council has directed staff to prepare a letter to the crown corporation letting them know St. Thomas is “open for business” for a casino.
“I’m hoping for support on this because it’s going to be an opportunity to send a very clear and loud message that the city of St. Thomas is open for business,” finance and administration chairwoman Lori Baldwin-Sands said.
Viva St. Thomas!
Gambling on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s interest in the municipality, St. Thomas council has directed staff to prepare a letter to the crown corporation letting them know St. Thomas is “open for business” for a casino.
“I’m hoping for support on this because it’s going to be an opportunity to send a very clear and loud message that the city of St. Thomas is open for business,” finance and administration chairwoman Lori Baldwin-Sands said.
The City of Greater Sudbury would welcome a new casino development with open arms, council decided Tuesday.
However, several councillors expressed reservations about what a casino would do to Sudbury Downs and local farmers, and said Sudburians should be consulted before the provincial government moves ahead.
Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac said she was angry at the provincial government for moving revenue opportunities away from rural areas.
SAULT STE. MARIE – City council will keep holding on to a report that recommends a $69-million public/private development at its waterfront ‘Gateway’ site, as it waits to see what happens with the casino and former St. Marys Paper site.
Jerry Dolcetti, the city’s commissioner of engineering and planning, said in a report to council Monday that the province’s ‘modernization’ plans for OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie, and the redevelopment of the St. Marys Paper site – both of which abut the Gateway site – could mean “endless,” opportunity for mixed land use within the city’s riverfront zone.
A growing group of potential developers and operators for a proposed Belleville casino are already placing early bets on the project.
The contentious gambling complex has already attracted interest from at least four potential operators with prior history in the casino business and five developers who own property here, city officials say.
Now that the city has definitely cast the die in favour of a casino coming to Belleville, council should not sit back and simply wait for the money to roll in.
It still has work to do. Important work.
Council so far has done the best it can in the face of crazy deadlines from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, including providing an avenue for the public to have its say.
Councillors have become increasing concerned that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation are will be seeking bids from potential suitors to establish another gaming facility in the city, or even outside the municipality’s borders. Losing the gaming facility could mean the elimination of $4.4 million the city currently receives from the cut in the slot revenues it receives from Flamboro Downs as a host municipality.
“It opens a can of worms,” said Ward 4 councillor Sam Merulla. “It’s a political mess. (OLG) is like a bull in a china shop.”
The city uses the $4.4 million slot revenues to reduce property taxes. From 2000-2011, Hamilton has received about $49 million in revenue from Flamboro Downs. The province has not stated if it will compensate municipalities for the loss of the revenue.
All except one councillor voted in favour of staying the course to meet the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporations fall deadline for site proposals.
Council also received positive news from Chief Cory McMullen who suggested feedback from several other chiefs in casino-hosting communities indicate having a casino is “not a drain on police resources.”
Councilors voted 9-3 in favour of a resolution that confirms the city’s willingness to become a host to a potential OLG gaming facility. The only councillors to vote against the motion were Terry Cassidy, Jim Harrison and Bob Wannamaker.
Even with the passing of this resolution, Mayor John Williams made it clear this in no way guarantees Quinte West will be home to a gaming facility.
WOODSTOCK – City council took its first step in retaining its slots facility under the OLG’s new strategic direction.
With the province requesting current OLG host municipalities indicate their continued support in hosting OLG-supervised gaming, that’s exactly what council did Thursday.
Developers have shown interest in building a casino in four locations in Greater Sudbury, city councillors will hear this week.
In a report prepared for the Aug. 14 meeting of city council, staff says they have been in contact with more than a dozen potential suitors for a casino, which will be built somewhere in the city under a plan announced in the spring by the province.
The numbers are in and a small portion of Belleville has spoken — 64.5 per cent of those who participated in a city wide survey said they are not opposed to The Friendly City welcoming a casino.
Last month, city hall requested the public’s input on the issue via e-mail, phone calls and an electronic form on the city’s website.
City council deferred a committee recommendation to pursue an application with the province to open a casino in Kenora, pending public consultation. Council is also requesting a report from Lake of the Woods Development Commission regarding the proposal.
Downtown businesses are backing the possibility of a casino in North Bay, specifically in the city’s core.
The Downtown Improvement Area Board of Management came out Wednesday in support a gaming facility in the city, suggesting it would economically benefit businesses.
DIA chairman Bob Alger said the group consulted with other communities and business improvement associations, including those in Orillia, Thunder Bay and Niagara Falls.
He said a majority of board members agreed the positive aspects outweigh the negatives, and if there’s going to be a casino in the city, it should be located in the downtown.als is expected to be issued in the fall.
Kenora city council is asking for input from the public, after it was chosen as a potential site for a casino. The province has recognized the area as one of 29 zones that could potentially develop a gaming facility. Council has expressed interest in the project, noting the benefits of creating jobs, as well as increasing property tax assessments.
KINGSTON – Mayor Mark Gerretsen says he won’t allow council to be rushed into deciding whether to bring a casino to Kingston and is prepared to tell the province to “back off, you’re pushing too hard.”
Gerretsen said he was impressed with the 45 speakers at a public meeting on Wednesday night – many of whom noted that the decision councillors had to make next month was being rushed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
“That is an extremely good point and it might put us in a situation where we need more information,” Gerretsen told the Whig-Standard.
“I’m not going to vote in favour of this because I’m being rushed. I would suggest to council that we tell OLG we need more time, back off.”
EMC News – “The casino stays here!”
That was the message delivered loud and clear at a Save Our Casino rally held outside the Lou Jeffries Recreation Centre in Gananoque last Thursday, Aug. 2. Close to 200 people attended the event which aimed, in part, to counter growing fear the gaming facility could face a murky future in light of new rules set out by the provincial government earlier this year.
“This is the place for the casino. It was the place they decided it should be and it should stay here,” Gananoque mayor Erika Demchuk announced to the crowd.
Faced with a massive debt and ongoing budget deficit, the province has taken some steps to get its financial house in order. One of those steps is to turn the operation of Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) casinos over to the private sector. This opens the door to the possible establishment of facilities in neighbouring communities “namely Kingston” and resulting shutdown of the Thousand Islands Charity Casino.
WOODSTOCK – Questions about the future of slots have swirled through Woodstock and the rest of the province since OLG announced its new strategic direction back in March.
The topic will enter Woodstock’s council chambers for the first time Thursday.
The province has requested current OLG host municipalities, such as Woodstock, indicate their continued support in hosting gaming supervised by the OLG and committed to socially responsible gaming. Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski will ask councillors to continue to support gaming and continue to be a willing host municipality for gaming as it evolves.
Every indication is council will continue to support gaming in the city.
KINGSTON – Modern casinos are designed to excite their gambling clientele with the banks of winking, seductive slot machines and a friendly atmosphere.
But the announcement by the Ontario and Lottery Gaming Corporation that casino operations will be expanded – and privatized – makes the button-pushing on a two-cent slot machine pale magnificently by comparison.
There’s a whole lot of high-rolling action at stake as casino designers, builders and operators – most of them experienced U.S. companies – vie for a seat at the province’s expanding gaming table.
Consider this: Even before city councillors host a public meeting on Wednesday to gauge the level of interest in bringing a casino here, Kingston’s top development officer has had meetings with what he termed a “medium-sized” gaming company.
KINGSTON – About this report:
As Kingstonians embark on a public discussion over whether the city wants to host a new casino development, the Whig-Standard’s Paul Schliesmann and Danielle VandenBrink today begin a three-part examination of what this would mean to the city. In the days to come in the Whig and on thewhig.com, they’ll look at what sort of operation might set up shop in the Limestone City, the social issues it might raise, and the economic spinoffs its proponents vow will make it all worthwhile.
Will Kingston city council reverse decades of anti-gambling votes and roll the dice in favour of a casino?
Councillors are about to become immersed in an intense debate on two fronts to determine the economic and social implications of approving what will likely be a privately owned, glitzy, Vegas-style gambling operation.
Chamber of Commerce wants council to vote in favour of gaming facility at Aug. 14 meeting
WHITBY — Five million dollars in annual revenue and more than 300 jobs should be welcome additions to any community.
But the Whitby Chamber of Commerce believes Whitby council is gambling with the town’s economic future while sitting on the fence regarding the development of a casino.
The almighty dollar appears to be the driving force behind Mayor Jim Watson’s interest in Ottawa pursuing a major downtown casino.
“We may have an opportunity to see if we can keep more gaming revenue in Ottawa and Ontario.
“On any given month, literally millions of dollars from Ontario residents is staying in Quebec and that doesn’t help our city, or hospitals or schools. If we have an opportunity to repatriate some of that money, we should have a serious discussion with the province,” Watson said, responding to a resident unhappy with the prospect of a casino.
GANANOQUE —The message was simple and to the point.
To the Province of Ontario, City of Kingston and potential investors: Leave Casino 1000 Islands in the Thousand Islands.
Close to 400 area residents, casino workers, merchants and emergency personnel joined a who’s-who of the local political scene at a rally Thursday outside the Lou Jeffries Gananoque TLTI Recreation Centre.
Reading The Intelligencer this week, you would be forgiven if you thought you were reading the Ontario Gambling Daily. From stories about potential developers, to stories from Kingston and Gananoque about the possible move of that casino, to the local war of words erupting among councillors … there hasn’t been this big of a hot-button issue in this town since, well, I can’t remember.
So, why am I writing about it? The answer is simple: too many people seem to have taken leave of their senses, and I can’t take it anymore.
Personally, I couldn’t care less about whether a casino comes to The Friendly City. I travelled to Las Vegas twice last year, and spent a whopping $20 in the Bellagio — and that’s the total for both trips.
BELLEVILLE – Coun. Jodie Jenkins is moving forward in his bid to have a municipal referendum on the casino issue.
Jenkins issued a press release late Friday stating he filed a motion with Belleville’s city clerk requesting a referendum take place during the next municipal election. Residents, under the motion, would be asked if they support the location of a gaming facility in Belleville.
A large crowd turned out in Gananoque east of Kingston yesterday for a “Save Our Casino” rally.
A rivalry has sprung up between the two communities after Kingston municipal staff started talking about what role a casino could play in their city.
Ganonoque residents say they’ll continue rallying to keep their casino from moving to nearby Kingston.
Hundreds of people from the eastern Ontario town showed up at a demonstration Thursday night, hoping to keep the Thousand Island Casino and its economic spinoff in their community.
“(They may be interested in) Kingston due to the fact that bigger is better, maybe they want their share,” said Leeds and Thousand Islands Mayor Bruce Bryan.
U.S. gambling giants working hard to win the coveted prize of Toronto are eager to fund non-gambling attractions at Ontario Place if they can operate a casino across the bridge at Exhibition Place.
That scenario — helping the cash-strapped province rebuild Ontario Place, pouring Exhibition lease payments into City of Toronto coffers and creating thousands of jobs — is being floated by some aligned with MGM Resorts.
Rival bidder Caesars Entertainment is also intrigued by the idea of an “integrated resort” straddling Lake Shore Blvd., with clearly marked sides for family and adult fun, but doesn’t want to appear to be pushing a particular GTA location.
For the twelfth consecutive year, Caesars Windsor has been voted by gamblers as the best overall gaming resort in the region.
The honour is the result of thousands of votes cast by readers of the gaming magazine Casino Player in the publication’s annual survey, with the local property beating out area competitors MotorCity Casino, MGM Grand Detroit Casino and the Greektown Casino.
The City of North Bay, Ontario has scheduled a public meeting August 22 to get residents’ feedback on the possibility of developing a casino in the city.
According to a North Bay city staff report July 25, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) issued a request for information in May to solicit input from the private sector, and North Bay is identified as one of five zones being considered for the establishment of a new gaming facility. The zone, named N5 by OLG, allows for up to 300 slot machines, according to the city staff report.
Belleville councillor Pat Culhane has clarified her position on a casino for Belleville, saying she’s in favour unless a convincing case to the contrary is made.
“If somebody wants me to be a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ as of today, unless there’s some compelling evidence to the contrary, I’m sticking with my original vote, which was, of course, ‘yes,’” Culhane said Thursday.
“There is no evidence to persuade me to the contrary.”
BELLEVILLE – Local addictions workers say they won’t oppose Belleville’s efforts to secure a casino, but they want anyone with gambling problems to seek help.
Executive director Cate Sutherland and counsellor Mary Boyce of the Addictions Centre (Hastings/Prince Edward Counties) Inc. are adamant in declaring their neutrality on the issue.
“We take no political stance,” Sutherland said emphatically.
BELLEVILLE – For politicians in favour of gambling, the end justifies the means.
Addictions workers and some local opponents of gaming venues cite cases of increased gambling problems after casinos are created.
But as most Belleville council works toward bringing a casino to Belleville, the city’s mayor and all but one councillor are united in one view.
They say the economic benefits of gambling are plentiful; the risks of social and gamblers’ financial ruin are not.
GANANOQUE – Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands Mayor Bruce Bryan says the town and township both need to show they are going to put everything they have into saving the casino.
“If the casino goes, the repercussions will be tremendous,” said Bryan. “We’re using the money from the casino for capital expenses and towards the villages. The casino is critical for us. This is super serious and will be crushing if we lose this.”
Tonight there will be a Save Our Casino rally beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Lou Jefferies Gananoque TLTI Recreation Centre.
BELLEVILLE – Most Belleville councillors want a casino in Belleville, but one says too many residents don’t fully understand the issue.
Mayor Neil Ellis says he wants a casino; so do six of the city’s eight councillors.
Coun. Jodie Jenkins is opposed; Coun. Pat Culhane has yet to decide, saying she’s still gathering information.
The problem, she said, is that more people aren’t doing the same thing.
You can talk about politics, research, faith, addictions, morals, crime and scandal.
But in the end, Belleville’s quest for a casino boils down to cash and who’s winning or losing it.
Lots of it.
Critics say there won’t be enough or that it will go to the wrong places or be taken from the wrong people.
I have been asked a lot about the Belleville-Quinte West casino debate, but first, I think we have to talk about what got us to this point.
The McGuinty government has a problem. It has a $15.3 billion dollar deficit, a debt rapidly approaching $300 billion and $10 billion is spent annually just to service that debt.
The Ontario government’s problem is not a revenue problem, it is a spending problem. Nevertheless, the government has decided, rather than making tough decisions at Queen’s Park, it has to find new and creative ways to get more of your money.
The casino debate is going public.
Council has approved a public meeting for Aug. 22, starting at 6 p.m. at city hall, to hear from residents about the possibility of a gaming facility in the city.
Coun. Dave Mendicino, chairman of community services, said the entire evening has been set aside for the meeting, in which the public will have a chance to provide input on whether North Bay should be home to casino.
BELLEVILLE – An Aug. 13 public meeting on a new casino for Belleville will be a gauge for public opinion — not a forum for debate.
Mayor Neil Ellis said city officials want to hear public opinions on the issue but won’t be engaging in discussion.
“The meeting is not to debate people,” Ellis said. “It’s just for us to write down what you say.”
Ellis said most city residents support the concept of a casino but he’s willing to listen to critics as well.
AJAX — Ajax wants to expand OLG Slots at Ajax Downs, and doesn’t understand why Whitby thinks it deserves a 15- to 20-per cent portion of Ajax’s proceeds from the gaming facility.
Only one casino is permitted in the Ajax, Whitby and Pickering area, and OLG wants it to be expanded from the Ajax site’s current size. While Pickering said it’s not interested in hosting a gaming facility, Whitby had strong words for Ajax.
“The key point for me is whether Ajax is willing to share, knowing they now risk losing everything,”Whitby councillor Don Mitchell said at a Whitby council meeting, threatening that Whitby will make a play to host the facility if Ajax doesn’t share its proceeds from the OLG Slots.
Ajax and Whitby are squabbling over casino revenue in a dispute that has the appearance of a high-risk poker game.
Whitby wants a share of revenues at an expanded Ajax Downs casino and is threatening to bid against Ajax for a casino if money is not promised.
Should Whitby win the approval of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., the Ajax facility would have to close because the lottery corporation has allotted only one casino for either Pickering, Ajax or Whitby.
Las Vegas Sands is the latest resort giant to officially signal its interest in bidding for a Toronto casino.
The company does not yet have a specific site or proposal for the casino, but senior vice-president Andy Abboud said Las Vegas Sands has been exploring options “all over the GTA.”
“Our main interest is, however, in the downtown core and the waterfront, because we want to be close to existing tourist infrastructures … close to all the best restaurants and theatres,” he said Monday.
Las Vegas Sands is the latest casino giant to officially vie for the right to build a local resort, registering five lobbyists and eyeing potential sites across the GTA.
Andy Abboud, a Sands senior vice-president, said Monday the company does not yet have a particular site or proposal.
Sands, which owns resorts in Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Macao and Singapore, is “intrigued” by Toronto because of a potential fit with Sands’ “integrated resort” model that includes a casino, retail, entertainment, convention and exhibition space, Abboud said.
AJAX — Ajax wants to expand OLG Slots at Ajax Downs, and doesn’t understand why Whitby thinks it deserves a 15- to 20-per cent portion of Ajax’s proceeds from the gaming facility.
Only one casino is permitted in the Ajax, Whitby and Pickering area, and OLG wants it to be expanded from the Ajax site’s current size. While Pickering said it’s not interested in hosting a gaming facility, Whitby had strong words for Ajax.
“The key point for me is whether Ajax is willing to share, knowing they now risk losing everything,”Whitby councillor Don Mitchell said at a Whitby council meeting, threatening that Whitby will make a play to host the facility if Ajax doesn’t share its proceeds from the OLG Slots.
Point Edward Mayor Dick Kirkland has a wish list for the new owners of his village’s waterfront casino.
He sent a letter to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as a submission to their “Request for Information” phase, which closed July 4, part of the province’s modernization plan for its gambling sites.
The plan, announced in March, will see the province divided into 29 zones, each one privately run and capable of hosting a specific number of slot machines, table games or a combination of both.
Kirkland said he wants the new owners — who won’t be announced until 2013 — to install solar panels on the roof to offset energy costs and add a new banquet facility and entertainment venue in the casino.
CENTRE WELLINGTON
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued a first-quarter (April to June 2012) non-tax gaming revenue payment of $548,587 to Centre Wellington Township for hosting OLG Slots at the Grand River Raceway.
As announced on March 12, OLG is modernizing Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry. OLG officials say the effort will increase revenue for the province and create jobs while continuing to support municipalities through a new consistent funding model to be developed for towns and cities that host an OLG gaming facility.
“The partnership between OLG gaming sites and host municipalities brings substantial economic and social benefits to Ontario families,” said Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance.
AJAX — Ajax residents just took $1.7 million to the bank, thanks to OLG Slots at Ajax Downs.
The payment, which covers the Town’s portion of the facility’s gaming proceeds from April to June 2012, was issued July 20 by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Proceeds are paid out quarterly, according to the government’s fiscal year.
On March 12, OLG announced it will make major changes to modernize Ontario’s gaming industry and increase the Province’s gaming revenue. The changes include turning operation of OLG casinos over to private operators, closing or relocating some facilities and unifying the fee structure for host municipalities.
EMC News – Accusations were flying and tempers were flaring at city council during the recent casino debate.
For the first time in his term as Kingston mayor, Mark Gerretsen threatened to kick one councillor out of the meeting for questioning his role as chair.
The debate began beyond the normal 11pm quitting time of council. Councillors agreed to extend their July 17 sitting to complete the agenda.
But as midnight got closer, tempers got shorter.
EMC News – The City of Kingston will go ahead with a public meeting on the idea of hosting a casino.
The mid-summer’s meeting will take place Wednesday, August 8 in Memorial Hall.
Despite warnings by the mayor to stay away from the ethical questions of gambling at this time, the contentious issue of whether to hold a meeting was decided after a marathon council meeting that spanned two nights, and caused sparks to fly.
“It’s such a negative for Kingston. I can’t see any point pursuing it,” said Coun. Rob Hutchison, who opposed holding a public meeting to gauge community interest in a casino.
The City of Kingston, Ontario announced Tuesday it has scheduled a public meeting August 8 that will include a presentation from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which intends to determine residents’ interest in a casino in Kingston.
“The OLG will not locate a gaming facility in a community whose Council does not want one,” the city stated in a press release.
The City of Kingston is considering the possibility of a casino being opened in town, and is seeking the public’s on that decision.
A public meeting to provide feedback about this issue will take place on on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall, City Hall at 216 Ontario St.
The meeting will be chaired by Mayor Mark Gerretsen and members of City Council and City staff will be in attendance.
KINGSTON – Two big political questions were unanswered going into last Thursday’s makeup Kingston city council session:
a) Would Kingston consider bringing in a casino? and,
b) Could Mayor Mark Gerretsen and Coun. Rick Downes patch up their differences from a previous meeting?
Yes and yes.
Councillors decided Thursday, in less than seven minutes, to move ahead with a public meeting to discuss the opening of a privatized casino in Kingston.
GANANOQUE – Gananoque and the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands are hoping that by working together with a united front it will help keep the Thousand Islands OLG Charity Casino here.
A joint meeting between both councils from Gananoque and TLTI last week was set to approve an investment profile for potential investors in the casino as it moves from a public to a private corporation.
“This is a very important meeting,” said Gananoque Mayor Erika Demchuk. “The casino is jointly owned and it is imperative that we work together to save what we have.”
Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of people involved with the Ontario horse-racing industry. I have visited horse tracks from Windsor to Kawartha and from Fort Erie to Sudbury.
One thing I have heard at every stop is that Premier Dalton McGuinty and Liberal Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s decision to end the successful slots-at-racetracks agreement marked the beginning of the end for Ontario’s horse-racing industry and with it more than 60,000 direct or indirect jobs, at a time when we already have 600,000 unemployed men and women in the province.
GANANOQUE – A rally aimed at voicing public support for the Thousand Islands Charity Casino to remain near Gananoque has been organized for next month, with area politicians and concerned residents set to attend.
A recent decision by the City of Kingston to discuss the opening of a privatized casino in that city has prompted Gananoque and the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands – the current co-hosting municipalities – to band together in defence of a casino that is the town’s largest employer and which contributes a combined $3.2-million annually to their coffers.
The City of Woodstock has received its first-quarter payment from Ontario Lottery and Gaming for hosting OLG slots at the Woodstock Raceway..
The April to June 2012 non-tax gaming, revenue payment for more than $343,000 was received by the city last week
The money Woodstock receives for hosting the slots facility is used several ways. Slots funding was used to cover the city’s contribution to the new Woodstock Hospital and the city’s $100,000 annual contribution to the Woodstock YMCA’s capital campaign is also taken from slots money.
The City is seeking the input of residents on whether or not it should support the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) possibly locating a casino operation in Kingston. A public meeting to receive feedback on this question has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8 in Memorial Hall, City Hall at 216 Ontario St.
The public meeting will be attended by members of City Council, City staff and will be chaired by Mayor Mark Gerretsen. It will include a brief presentation of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) process to modernize lottery and gaming in Ontario, followed by an opportunity for members of the public to speak. Those wishing to speak are being asked to register at the welcome table prior to the start of the meeting. Speakers will be chosen in random order and will each be allowed to speak for up to five minutes.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued a first-quarter (April to June 2012) non-tax gaming revenue payment of nearly $1.1 million to Innisfil, for hosting OLG Slots at Georgian Downs.
As announced on March 12, OLG is modernizing Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry. The effort will increase revenue for the province and create jobs, while continuing to support municipalities through a new consistent funding model to be developed for towns and cities that host an OLG gaming facility.
“The partnership between OLG gaming sites and host municipalities brings substantial economic and social benefits to Ontario families,” said Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance. “The sites create thousands of good jobs, boost local economies through increased tourism and help municipalities build strong, prosperous communities by sharing gaming revenues.”
Thunder Bay received the first payment of the year of their share of casino revenues.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) issued the first quarter non-tax gaming revenue payment of $626,540 to the City of Thunder Bay for hosting OLG Casino in the city.
The first quarter covers April to June, 2012.
Even in the dead of summer, the wheels of progress keep turning, for better or for worse. This past week saw city council move forward on two major files with the potential to change the face of the city, for better or for worse.
First, council gave the go-ahead to city staff to look into expanding the runway and terminal at Norman Rogers airport. For a cost of $13.2 million, the airport, which currently receives only smaller passenger planes, could welcome larger jets carrying twice as many people.
Supporters of the expansion argue this would lead to more flights by more airlines, making the city more attractive as a convention destination, more easily accessible to tourists, and more hospitable to business.
A casino on Front St. in the heart of downtown Toronto is the latest proposal spawned by the Ontario government’s bid to boost gambling profits.
Oxford Properties Group is incorporating a possible casino-entertainment complex into discussions of a major redevelopment of its part of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and surrounding properties, the Star has learned.
Two independent sources confirmed the talks, but portrayed Oxford, owned by pension giant OMERS, as joining in the casino discussions with less zeal than others such as MGM Resorts and Caesar’s Entertainment.
For the past few months, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has been shopping around the idea of building a new casino in the GTA. A number of municipalities have stepped forward express their interest in hosting the new casino – but Hamilton-Burlington is not one of them.
While Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring has stated that his city has no interest in hosting the casino, Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina had a different idea. He actually expressed interest in bringing the GTA casino to his city, but local counsellors were not on board with the idea. Unfortunately for him, the council did not support the hosting of a new casino in Hamilton. Additionally, in the last referendum held on the issue, 64% of residents opposed the construction of a Hamilton casino.
Vista Hospitality says mall a natural choice
While the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is tight-lipped about what groups have expressed interest in building a casino in Greater Sudbury, at least one potential suitor has confirmed its interest, at least on some level.
Vista Hospitality, which owns the Rainbow Centre, participated in the first part of the process – the request for information – in hopes of eventually seeing the casino located in its downtown mall.
An outfit calling itself “Friends of Downtown Ottawa” sent this press release Friday afternoon and my editor asked me to look into it.
Brantford’s first-quarter payment from the OLG arrived this week.
According to a news release, $847,532 was issued to the city for hosting the OLG Casino in Brantford.
The cheque is for 5% of the slot revenue at the facility for the period from April to June this year.
KINGSTON – Two big political questions were unanswered going into Thursday night’s make-up city council session:
a) would Kingston consider bringing in a casino; and,
b) could Mayor Mark Gerretsen and Councillor Rick Downes patch up their differences from Tuesday night’s first go-round?
Yes and yes.
Councillors decided last night, in less than seven minutes, to move ahead with a public meeting to discuss the opening of a privatized casino in Kingston.
It’s not easy to put a price tag on a ruined life.
But that’s precisely what we need to do as the city eagerly contemplates the bottom-line benefits of expanding the casino at Western Fair District.
Everybody wants jobs and prosperity. And that’s why the folks at Tourism London and the London Chamber of Commerce back a bid to build a bigger and better casino, one that, according to Tourism London general manager John Winston, could feature a several-thousand seat theatre and waterworks display.
Revenue from Detroit’s three casinos was down in June, though not because of the new Toledo casino that opened in late May, experts said.
Gross receipts for the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino were down 5.8% from May and 1.6% from June last year.
Moody’s gaming analyst Keith Foley said the decline mirrors a nationwide trend.
EMC News -Quinte West – Council heard public input at its Monday meeting regarding the potential location of an OLG gaming facility within the city. Several residents had comments to share, for and against the possible casino.
“We have had a few phone calls and comments,” noted Mayor John Williams.
Mike Stortini from Batawa said he had a moral issue with a casino and felt that people don’t have to gamble. “Clientele should be visitors, not the people who live in this area,” he said.
Decision pending on whether council will allow Province to consider town as host site
WHITBY — Is Ajax ‘all in’ when it comes to expanding its current gaming facility or will the municipality finally agree to share a portion of its revenues?
That’s the question on the minds of Whitby councillors, who are under the gun to decide whether they will allow the Province to consider placing a casino in the town.
GANANOQUE – The Thousand Islands Casino officially celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday, but many minds were focused on the gaming centre’s future rather than its past.
Municipal leaders and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation officials gathered Thursday to mark the casino’s first decade in business at an event held just hours before Kingston city council was to decide whether to embark on a process that could result in the casino being moved. For the current host municipalities, there is reason for concern.
Caesars Windsor is the first casino in Canada to receive a seal of approval from the Responsible Gambling Council.
“It’s a tribute to their enthusiasm to develop programs that meet not only Canadian but international standards,” council CEO Jon Kelly said Wednesday.
“When you sign up to be the first, you’re taking a risk. What are these people going to tell you? What if we are not successful? So they have put themselves on the line to do this.”
KINGSTON – The city council casino debate ended abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday morning with the mayor and one city councillor yelling allegations at one another.
The next day Coun. Rick Downes accused Mayor Mark Gerretsen of “bullying.”
Downes was also in the process Wednesday morning of e-mailing the city clerk to ask if anything could be done about the mayor’s “biased” handling of issues prior to the resumption of the meeting Thursday night in the city council chambers.
BELLEVILLE – Mayor Neil Ellis refuses to gamble with a referendum addressing the contentious casino debate.
The mayor said he won’t be supporting a motion being proposed by Coun. Jodie Jenkins calling for a referendum on the building of the controversial casino project in Belleville.
The motion for a referendum being sought by Jenkins is aimed at gaining widespread public input on the subject.
Some Quinte area residents think council should jump at the chance to have the casino here while others are concerned for the future of the community.
Less than a dozen people spoke at the Quinte West council public meeting regarding a possible casino in the area, but opinions jumped between supporting and not supporting the casino. Trenton resident Wayne Fairman said he’s been visiting casinos for years and strongly supports the idea of having one locally.
KINGSTON – There is no denying that the possibility of Kingston wanting a casino is on the table, but that doesn’t mean the city is trying to take from Gananoque what they already have, Mayor Mark Gerretsen said.
The recent announcement that the provincial government will be privatizing casino operations throughout Ontario means that all municipalities will be looking at whether or not their city wants a casino, Gerretsen explained.
“Basically, all that is being asked of the municipalities is a blanket yes or no as to whether they’d like to have a casino,” Gerretsen said.
Public weighs in on possibility of gaming facility for the town
WHITBY — The people have spoken, and many would like to see a casino in Whitby.
More than 4,500 people across the community participated in a virtual town hall meeting on July 11, which was held to gather public input on the possibility of the town becoming a host community for a gaming facility.
“I am very much in favour of encouraging industry (to come) here, and job creation, so I think we should do everything possible to make the decision to put this casino in the Whitby area,” said Ken, one of more than a dozen residents who asked questions during the hour-and-a-half phone conference.
Some say life is a gamble.
To even exist is to take a risk.
But what constitutes a risk?
The dictionary describes it this way: “the possibility of suffering harm or loss.”
So to me, that means a perception of fear, while taking a risk means overcoming the fear of the unknown.
You’re heading out for a night on the town with guests making their first visit to London.
They like music, so heading to the 1,000-seat amphitheatre at the forks of the Thames is an option. After the concert, you could stick around for the permanent light show at the old courthouse.
If your guests are up for something with more glitz, you could hit the expanded casino at Western Fair District. Even if all the tickets for the show on the casino’s stage are sold out, you could try your luck at the machines and take in the waterworks display and light show.
Gananoque believes it’s holding a strong hand but there’s concern around the table that Kingston may not be bluffing.
The province’s recent privatization of casino operations has Kingston council set to discuss a motion to determine if the city is interested in hosting a gaming facility. Since only one such facility is permitted in a gaming zone, any successful bid by Kingston would ultimately mean the closure of the Thousand Islands Casino in Gananoque.
Gananoque Mayor Erika Demchuk calls that scenario “highly unlikely” given the millions of dollars and the logistics involved, but adds “it would be irresponsible for me to say it would never happen.”
A Toronto casino is inevitable. Will it be an ugly box built where nobody can see it, or a glorious five-star island of fun?
“Toronto the Good” is an epithet applied only by those with a passing familiarity with the city. In truth, Toronto is a place where you can indulge your vices with ease and comfort and the relative security that you’ll be left alone with your degradation. Valerie Scott, legal coordinator for the lobby group Sex Professionals of Canada, recently explained to reporters that Torontonians shouldn’t worry about a sudden explosion of brothels after a ruling that legalizes bawdy houses: “There have been brothels in practically every condo and apartment building in Toronto. People have no idea they exist, we are so discreet.” Toronto’s virtue has always been superficial, little more than a collective pursing of the lips. The same squeamish moralism is now at work on the issue of a downtown casino, and a huge opportunity for the city may well be wasted on its account. The debate we should be having is the one we are most predisposed to avoid: not whether we should have a casino, but how we can make the casino we will have fabulous.
WASAGA BEACH – Wasaga Beach has identified eight sites that may be suitable locations for a casino.
In a letter to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation dated July 3, the eight sites are provided in response to a request for information initiated by the OLG after Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Springwater Township and Collingwood were identified as part of the C7 zone, a potential location for a gaming facility with 300 slots.
KINGSTON – Kingston city council is to discuss Tuesday night whether the municipality is interested in hosting a gaming facility.
A motion is to be put in front of council asking that the city hold a public meeting at City Hall on July 31 to gauge public opinion about a casino in Kingston.
Information gathered at that meeting will determine if the city offers itself as a host municipality.
Earlier this year, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation began a process to modernize the province’s gaming industry.
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation is looking to build a casino, conference centre and hotel in Dryden.
“It’s at the request for information stage,” said Wabigoon Lake Chief Ruben Cantin. “So it’s going to take a while, maybe even this fall and even later on until they formalize a decision on who’s going to get licenses and who isn’t.”
Cantin said the community first became interested in developing a casino project in the mid-2000s but put it on hold after a moratorium on casinos was put in place in 2005.
A large plaque hangs on a wall of the Prince of Wales Dining Room. It is, in fact, pretty much the entire wall – floor to ceiling in height, some seven feet long, it displays the names of every winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes since 1959. There are blank plates to display champions well into the future, too. All the way to 2038.
The question is, of course, will any be needed past 2012? That was the undercurrent Wednesday afternoon as horse racing aficionados gathered at Fort Erie Race Track for the annual pre-race ritual: the PoW draw. It’s where horses are matched to a starting position for this Sunday’s second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown – always an exciting occasion for the border oval and its host town.
Further evidence your taxes likely will rise when the slots-at-racetracks program ends next March came last week when the treasurer for the town of Milton said residents could be hit with a tax increase of between 22 and 25 per cent without a cut of gaming revenue.
It was just the kind of message the beleaguered horse racing sector needed in its struggle to reach average citizens disinterested in the industry’s plight and slow to appreciate the incredible economic benefits the slots-at-racetracks program provides to all Ontarians.
Linda Leeds, the director of corporate services/treasurer for the Town of Milton, said without the slot hall at Mohawk Racetrack, in Campbellville, or an alternative gaming site in the town, residents would have to make up a considerable financial shortfall.
Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin is reviewing more than 150 complaints from the public about the provincial government’s handling of the horse racing industry.
On the ombudsman’s official Twitter account on Monday, Marin responded to a query about the removal of slot machines from Ontario horse racing tracks by saying that his office had received about 30 complaints on the issue.
“We are conducting an initial assessment,” Marin wrote.
On Tuesday, Marin posted that he is reviewing more than 150 complaints on the issue.
Quinte West residents who have opinions about a proposed casino can air them next week during a public meeting on the subject.
Quinte West council will receive input next Monday evening — during its regular council meeting – regarding Quinte West becoming a host municipality for the potential location of an OLG gaming facility.
“Part of the process we are going through – to prove to OLG that we are serious – is to collect public input,” said Mayor John Williams. “We want the input for council’s consideration and OLG will want to know that we had the meeting and heard the opinions of the residents.”
STAYNER – Clearview Township deputy mayor Alicia Savage is asking council members to provide her with their questions relating to a casino possibly locating in the region.
Savage, at council’s meeting last Monday night, said she plans to forward the questions to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation in the next few weeks.
She said the plan is to give the questions to OLG prior to a meeting later this summer between the crown corporation and local municipal leaders, where the opportunity to host a casino will be up for discussion.
Residents who have opinions about a proposed casino can air them out next week during a public meeting on the subject.
Quinte West council will receive input next Monday evening – during the regular council meeting – regarding Quinte West becoming a host municipality for the potential location of an OLG gaming facility.
“Part of the process we are going through – to prove to OLG that we are serious – is to collect public input,” said Mayor John Williams Monday. “We want the input for council’s consideration and OLG will want to know that we had the meeting and heard the opinions of the residents.”
The London Chamber of Commerce is hoping it threw a winning bet behind the Western Fair District in the race for expanded gaming services.
Gerry Macartney, chamber CEO, said he thinks London is the right location and hopes the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) agrees.
“The fact is somebody is going to get one and there are very few opportunities for communities in Ontario because of the contraction that OLG is going through,” Macartney said. “Our view is it might as well as be here because we’ve got a strong base, a strong system (and) a strong organizational team at the Western Fair District that knows what they’re doing, as does OLG.”
TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is today taking another important step forward in modernizing the province’s lottery and gaming industry by issuing the Request for Information (RFI) for the regulated private-sector participation in Ontario’s lotteries.
The OLG is seeking input from potential providers as part of its strategic plan to modernize lottery products and distribution within Ontario.
“By shifting the day-to-day operation of Ontario’s lottery system to a regulated private service provider, Ontario lottery players will experience more innovative and entertaining games,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and Chief Executive Officer. “For the eight million Ontarians who play lottery games responsibly every year, a modernized system will also be more convenient as we look to expand sales options at grocery and retail checkout lanes.”
The RFI process will:
OLG is engaging an independent fairness monitor to ensure the overall procurement process is carried out fairly and transparently.
“In the future, OLG will continue to retain complete oversight and responsibility for Ontario lottery,” said Mr. Phillips. “Critical components of the business will remain with OLG, including the draws operations, draws audits, prize redemption, responsible playing, approval of game rules and marketing plans.”
OLG will only engage with service providers for lottery services who comply with OLG’s Responsible Gaming program.
By modernizing lottery, as well as gaming, OLG will in five years contribute an additional $1.3 billion a year to key public priorities and usher in $3 billion in private-sector capital investment in Ontario. In addition to 2,300 net new jobs in the lottery and gaming industry, the initiative would help create an estimated 4,000 jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail industries.
This is the second RFI OLG has recently issued to modernize the province’s lottery and gaming sector. The first RFI, issued on May 17, is seeking private-sector input for modernizing Ontario’s gaming sector. Both RFIs are available on MERX (www.merx.com/olg).
OLG Background documents on OLG’s Modernization Procurement Process and a summary of the Lottery RFI are also posted on www.OLG.ca.
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 $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Know your limit, play within it!
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The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) plans to engage regulated private-sector providers to expand and possibly operate lottery in Ontario. The process will begin with a multi-stage, competitive and transparent procurement process that includes a Request for Information (RFI) followed by a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) and a Request for Proposal (RFP).
OLG is interested in exploring opportunities to assign functions to regulated private-sector service providers for the lotteries in Ontario, specifically:
The RFI is non-binding and the answers provided by respondents have no influence in the evaluation of any potential future formal competitive process. At OLG’s sole discretion, respondents may be invited to participate in further presentation sessions.
It is anticipated that the procurement process will be made up of various stages that may include the following:
As part of the Ontario government’s new direction to the OLG in July of 2010, OLG conducted a comprehensive strategic review of lottery and gaming operations. The result of the review was three key recommendations:
These three recommendations have implications specific to the lottery business, where OLG is looking to accomplish several goals:
This initiative does not contemplate the introduction of VLTs, nor does it include the expansion of lottery into the hospitality sector.
OLG will continue to be the agency responsible for conducting and managing lottery in Ontario, but will no longer be directly developing all games or deploying terminals. Rather, OLG’s role will focus on conducting and managing lottery in Ontario through a number of functions essential to serving as the Operating Mind of the business:
At the completion of the modernization exercise in 2017-18, OLG will be a modern, sustainable organization, which will increase Net Profit to Ontario by an additional $1.3 billion a year — all while upholding responsible gaming standards.
This proposed reform could see key public priorities like healthcare and education benefit from the additional annual Net Profit to Ontario of $1.3 billion by 2017. Over the six-year transformation period, OLG will provide an additional $4.6 billion to the Ontario government. Employment will grow by over 2,300 net new jobs in the industry (in new gaming facilities and related amenities, as well as in digital gaming design and management). An estimated 4,000 service sector jobs will also be created in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail industries.
OLG is committed to ensuring that its modernization is the result of a process that is, and is seen to be, fair and transparent to all relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, OLG intends to structure the modernization process so that it includes various procedural safeguards such as the use of independent, third party fairness and integrity monitors.
(Disponible en français)
OLG plans to engage regulated private-sector providers to expand lottery and gaming in Ontario. The process will begin with a multi-stage, competitive and transparent procurement process that includes a Request for Information (RFI) followed by a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) and a Request for Proposal (RFP).
OLG is committed to ensuring that its modernization is the result of a process that is, and is seen to be, fair and transparent to all relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, OLG intends to structure the modernization process so that it includes various procedural safeguards such as the use of fairness monitors.
(Disponible en français)
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716, www.OLG.ca
Sault Ste. Marie – Time is running out to claim a second prize worth $100,000 for an ENCORE – LOTTO 6/49 ticket sold one year ago in Toronto. Players have one year from the original draw date to claim their prize.
The winning numbers for the Saturday, June 11, 2011, ENCORE – LOTTO 6/49 draw were 0 – 8 – 4 – 0 – 6 – 8 – 4. Players matching the last six numbers of the seven numbers drawn in the exact order win $100,000.
Anyone possessing this ticket should fill in the back portion, sign it and contact the OLG Prize Centre at 20 Dundas Street West in Toronto before 5 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2012. Winners of up to $250,000 also have the convenience of dropping off winning tickets for processing at any OLG Casino or at several of OLG Slots at Racetrack facilities. Winning tickets of less than $999.99 can be cashed at these sites. Please call 1-800-387-0098 for more details or for a list of locations.
Information about this and other unclaimed tickets is available in the “Public Disclosures” section of www.OLG.ca under “OLG Reports“.
OLG reminds players that they can check their tickets for winners in a number of convenient ways:
• Compare your numbers to the winning numbers on OLG.ca.
• Call our WIN! Line at 416-870-8946 (Toronto area) or toll free at 1-866-891-8946 (outside Toronto area)
• TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) 1-800-563-5357 • Pick up a winning numbers printout from your lottery terminal retailer
• Use the easy self-serve Ticket Checker at your lottery terminal retailer. Simply insert the ticket, barcode side up, and wait for the message to appear on the Ticket Checker’s screen.
• Sign up on OLG.ca for winning numbers to be e-mailed to you
• Sign your ticket and ask a lottery retailer to check it for you
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 $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Know your limit, play within it!
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505.
Disponible en français
-30-
If Suburians want to gamble, let them. Bring on the casino. But it will not lead to a better quality of life. The economic impacts for a community with a casino are not life-changing.
It should be looked upon as another venue for entertainment and a good source of employment –both of which are attractive — but a casino does not work well as an economic driver.
That was the conclusion of a 2004 study of the Brantford casino, five years after it opened. That city’s experience is a reasonable comparison for what Greater Sudbury might expect.
TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is today taking an important step forward in modernizing the province’s lottery and gaming industry by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for the expansion of private-sector gaming.
The OLG is seeking input from potential providers as it expands regulated private-sector gaming in Ontario.
“Issuing the RFI is the next step in modernizing our business,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO. “This is the start of a process to engage private-sector companies which have the expertise of operating world-class gaming facilities.”
The process will:
OLG is engaging an independent fairness monitor to ensure the overall procurement process is carried out fairly and transparently. “OLG is continuing conversations with municipalities across the province to gauge interest in participating in our modernization initiative and we will focus only on communities which are interested in having a facility,” said Mr. Phillips.
OLG has provided $833 million to host municipalities in the last decade. When the modernization initiative is finished in 2017-18, OLG expects that figure to have increased for each host municipality.
By modernizing lottery and gaming, OLG will in five years contribute an additional $1.3 billion a year to key public priorities and usher in $3 billion in private-sector capital investment in Ontario. In addition to 2,300 net new jobs in the lottery and gaming industry, the initiative would help create an estimated 4,000 jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail industries.
While the new lottery and gaming model will include the expansion of regulated private-sector gaming, OLG will retain complete oversight of the sector, including responsible gaming.
OLG expects to issue a second RFI for the expansion of lotteries in the coming weeks. Both RFIs will be available on MERX (www.merx.com). MERX charges a fee to download this type of material.
OLG Background documents on OLG’s Modernization Procurement Process, OLG Gaming Zones and Gaming Zone Maps are also posted on www.OLG.ca.
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 $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Know your limit, play within it!
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
www.OLG.ca
For more information contact:
OLG Media Line
1.888.946.6716
OLG plans to engage regulated private-sector providers to expand lottery and gaming in Ontario. The process will begin with a multi-stage, competitive and transparent procurement process that includes a Request for Information (RFI) followed by a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) and a Request for Proposal (RFP).
OLG is committed to ensuring that its modernization is the result of a process that is, and is seen to be, fair and transparent to all relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, OLG intends to structure the modernization process so that it includes various procedural safeguards such as the use of fairness monitors.
(Disponible en français)
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716, www.OLG.ca
To effectively manage the gaming market in Ontario, OLG identified 29 Gaming Zones where existing or new gaming facilities would be permitted following municipal and other approvals. The Gaming Zones are outlined in OLG’s Request for Information (RFI) for Gaming, available on MERX ( www.merx.com )
Gaming Zones are geographic areas where regulated private-sector providers will be allowed to operate a single gaming facility, subject to approvals. The zones are defined for building purposes only, and will not affect operators’ ability to market their offering — although some restrictions might apply to ensure the sustainability of the market.
Gaming zones are based on a business model that is designed to maximize revenue for the province. Factors such as proximity of a gaming location to other gaming facilities and residential areas were measured to determine the zones.
The design of these zones is intended to manage competition between facilities and ensure a sustainable and efficient gaming market in Ontario. In each zone, OLG will define:
Inside gaming zones, each operator will be allowed to establish a new facility (for new zones), operate the current facility, or relocate existing facilities within the boundaries of the zone, subject to relevant approvals, including:
Note: The proposed zones for the location of OLG gaming facilities are not final. The geographic boundaries may be adjusted based on ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders and information received through the Request for Information (RFI) process.
Gaming Zone maps are posted on www.OLG.ca.
(Disponible en français)
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716, www.OLG.ca
The McGuinty government’s plan to expand the operations of its agency responsible for lotteries and gambling has them, unusually, on the wrong side of the safety police.
The Liberals, after all, are the party that has banned smoking in cars carrying children, that has made it an offence for a young person to drive if too many other young people are along for the ride, that has outlawed certain breeds of dog and that has effectively made the dandelion the provincial flower over dubious concerns about herbicide risk.
A projected casino is consuming much of the energy in Toronto politics. When a specific proposal is unveiled, however, it should be examined with care, not dogmatically rejected or uncritically embraced.
Rod Phillips, the CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., and Paul Godfrey, its chairman, appear to be on the right track. Such a development would not work if it is tawdry or grim or both. Mr. Godfrey hopes for an “integrated,” high-quality facility on the shore of Lake Ontario, near the major downtown hotels, in which a casino would only be one element, accompanied by good restaurants and theatres – rather like the Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore. In principle, such a project is quite desirable.
Plans for a mega-casino on Toronto’s waterfront have been touted by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission officials, but the project still has to clear many political hurdles before the first roulette wheel can be spun. The proposal to build a gaming facility in the city is contentious, with politicians and residents split on whether it’s a winning idea. Before the project gets final approval, everyone will get to have their say – from the province to the municipalities to the casino operators eyeing the potentially lucrative development, said Rod Phillips, OLG’s president and CEO, in an interview with the National Post’s editorial board.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s bid to shake up the province’s gambling business is getting thumbs down from the horse racing industry, from communities that will lose their slot machine operations, and from those who oppose the spread of gambling. A Forum Research poll this week found that 69 per cent of Ontarians oppose plans to increase gambling by adding casinos here and in Toronto.
Ottawa city councillors have shown initial enthusiasm for the idea of a casino here, but that could be quickly tempered by public opinion.
The provincial government, keen for the promised new revenue, will bull ahead with the plan, but it would be doing itself and Ontarians a favour if it took some time to explain why the idea has merit.
OLG REPORT SAYS MODERNIZE LOTTERY AND GAMING: ADDITIONAL $1.3 BILLION ANNUALLY TO GOVERNMENT, CREATION OF 2,300 JOBS AND 4,000 RELATED JOBS, $3 BILLION IN PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
TORONTO – In a report delivered to the Minister of Finance, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) outlined a proposal to modernize lottery and gaming in Ontario.
“Our plan will help create some 2,300 net new industry jobs and about 4,000 service sector jobs. It will improve how lottery and gaming are delivered in Ontario, and expand our gold standard approach to Responsible Gambling,” said OLG Chair Paul Godfrey. “As our plan is implemented, it could help launch some $3 billion in new private capital investment in the Ontario economy.”
“The OLG report has three key recommendations: become more customer-focused; expand the regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming; and renew OLG’s role to concentrate on the oversight of lottery and gaming,” said OLG President and CEO, Rod Phillips . “As these proposals are implemented over the next six years, the government could benefit from an additional $4.6 billion in revenue for key priorities.
The report to government, entitled, “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario: Advice to Government” is the result of a strategic business review that took place over the course of 2011. At the request of the government, OLG conducted a review of lottery distribution and land-based gaming facilities in Ontario. The review consisted of stakeholder consultations, research and extensive business analysis. A number of issues made a compelling case for change:
• Lottery and gaming are played by a majority of Ontarians (Last year, about 8 million Ontario adults played the lottery and 2.7 million visited an OLG gaming site.)
• OLG currently contributes just under $2.0 billion to the Ontario government to support key priorities like health care and education.
• The current model is unsustainable due to a number of factors including offshore gaming websites, declining border traffic and limited lottery purchasing options.
• Continued revenue to government is at risk without reform to the lottery and gaming industry.
• Revenues paid to the province are in decline.
• If no action is taken, OLG will need to spend $1 billion in public capital just to update its current service.
• An estimated $400 million is currently spent by Ontarians on offshore gambling websites.
• There is interest in improved or expanded sales options for lottery and gaming in urban Ontario markets.
• Some lottery terminals and gaming facilities are in locations that are not convenient to customers.
• Many Ontarians frequent retail locations like supermarkets, big box stores and large retail locations where lottery terminals are not conveniently located.
• Early expansion focused on properties near the U.S. but visits to Ontario from the U.S. have declined by 70 percent (23 million border crossings in 2002 to 7 million in 2011).
• Other provinces reduce their operational costs and improve efficiencies by allowing the private sector to operate sites (British Columbia, Atlantic Canada).
• Slot machine facilities are currently tied to racetracks, which limits options for gaming locations and costs the government $345 million annually
• Since lottery was introduced in 1975, technology has vastly improved and OLG has not kept pace. It’s a paper-based system that could be more efficient.
• OLG has the opportunity to significantly improve its contribution to the government—by $1.3 billion annually in 2017.
Key Report Recommendations
The report recommends reforms to Ontario’s gaming industry, all of which are subject to government approval. The report includes three recommendations:
1. Become More Customer-Focused
• Improve lottery offerings: allow for multi-lane sales at large retail outlets like supermarkets and big box stores.
• OLG would identify distinct zones where existing or new gaming sites (with municipal approval) would be permitted.
• In order to be able to change, move or create new sites, OLG should be able to expand slot facilities beyond horseracing racetracks. This would mean ending payments of approximately $345 million annually to racetracks. OLG does plan to continue offering slots at some racetracks where there is customer interest.
• Lottery terminals and gaming sites should be where customers are—the supply should be near the demand.
• Subject to municipal approval, allow new gaming sites in convenient locations where there is customer interest and, tourism potential.
• Close or relocate facilities that are underperforming. Some could move to locations within their regions that are closer to customers.
• Allow up to one new casino in the GTA, subject to an OLG business case and municipal approval.
• To improve the ability to offer a mix of games at sites, implement a consistent fee model for host municipalities to allow OLG to place gaming sites where there is customer interest.
2. Expand Regulated Private Sector Delivery of Lottery and Gaming
• To modernize both lottery and gaming options in Ontario, OLG would expand the engagement of the private sector to build and run the day-to-day operation of existing and new sites and to develop new technology and games for lottery terminals.
• This will mean some $3 billion in new private capital investment—a benefit to the Ontario economy.
• In addition to 2,300 net new jobs in the lottery and gaming industry, this initiative would help create an estimated 4,000 service sector jobs in the hospitality: hotel, restaurants, entertainment and retail industries.
• The moving of 6,000 gaming positions to private sector operators who will manage all OLG sites. Currently, 60% of gaming employees in Ontario work for private operators – the resort casinos which are owned and overseen by OLG. In the next 12-18 months, we anticipate 100 % will be employed by the private sector.
• OLG would maintain strict control and oversight of the business—including maintaining the integrity of lottery games.
• Regulated private sector providers would be responsible for funding, building or improving new and existing sites (upon recommendation by OLG with approval by the Minister and the host municipality).
3. Renew OLG’s Role In Oversight of Lottery and Gaming
• OLG would continue to maintain direct responsibility for all critical decisions related to the operation of lottery and gaming.
• OLG would continue to manage the lottery and gaming market and provide net profit to the government of Ontario—and if this proposal is accepted, increase that contribution.
• OLG will become a smaller organization focused on market management, the oversight of private operators and responsible gambling.
• Ontario will continue to be the North American leader in problem gambling programming. Ontario dedicates over $50 million dollars to the prevention and treatment of problem gambling – the highest funding level on the continent.
• OLG will ensure that responsible gambling resource centres and facial recognition technology are established at all gaming sites to mitigate the risk of problem gambling.
• OLG recommends the expansion of research and treatment support for problem gambling.
• OLG would also commit to increasing environmental practices in any modernization of lottery and gaming options.
Copies of “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario” are available at www.olg.ca
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 $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario’s hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Know your limit, play within it!
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
-30-
www.OLG.ca
• Since 1975, OLG has generated more than $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario.
• In fiscal 2011, OLG operations generated $3.7 billion in total economic activity in Ontario.
Contribution to the Province – just under $2.0 billion
• $1.8 billion – Funding for hospitals, health-related programs and other provincial priorities such as education.
• $120 million – Gaming proceeds for local and provincial charities.
• $10 million – Support for amateur athletes through the QUEST FOR GOLD program
Corporate Social Responsibility – $61 million
• $52.1 million – Partnering with government and independent agencies in the education, research, prevention and treatment of problem gambling.
• $1.9 million – Sponsorship of worthwhile community and local festivals and music events in support of community partners and the OLG brand.
• $7.1 million – Charitable gaming proceeds distributed to participating local charities.
Support for Local Economies – $1.7 billion
• $50.8 Million – Goods and services purchased from local Ontario businesses*.
• $946.6 Million – Payroll for 7,700 direct employees and more than 10,500 employees at the Resort Casinos.
• $223.6 Million – Lottery commissions are paid to OLG’s 10,000 lottery retailers for sales, prize redemptions and for selling jackpot winning tickets.
• $92 Million – Municipal contributions in the amount of five per cent of slot machine revenues from the first 450 machines and two per cent from each additional machine are made to those municipalities that host OLG Slots and Casino**.
• $345 Million – Payments to Ontario’s horse racing industry.
Lottery Prizes – $1.7 Billion
• OLG awarded more than $1.7 billion in lottery prizes to our players.
These figures are based on the period April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011
*excludes Resort Casinos
**Does not include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation that hosts the slot machine facility at the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
In “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, a report delivered to the Minister of Finance, OLG outlined a proposal to transform lottery and gaming in Ontario to modernize the system and create jobs. By modernizing lottery and gaming, in addition to initiatives currently underway, in 2017, OLG will contribute an additional $1.3 billion annually to key public priorities; usher in $3 billion in new private sector capital investment in the province; and help create some 2,300 net new jobs across Ontario and an estimated 4,000 service sector jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail sectors.
The report makes three key recommendations to reform Ontario’s gaming and lottery industry, all of which are subject to government approval:
• Become more customer-focused
• Expand regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming
• Renew OLG role in oversight of lottery and gaming
Within the three recommendations of the report, changes include allowing for slot facilities beyond horseracing tracks so that sites can be located where there is customer interest.
Since 1998, Slots at Racetracks have provided approximately $3.4 billion in slot revenue to the horseracing industry. As long as slots facilities are linked to individual racetracks, OLG is unable to consider alternate locations for gaming sites. Over time, this has resulted in the location of gaming facilities in places unrelated to customer interest.
The report recommends that this relationship be changed to allow for moving, changing or otherwise improving land-based gaming in the province. OLG recommends ending the Slots at Racetracks funding model though OLG does plan to continue offering slots at some racetracks where there is customer interest.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
In “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, a report delivered to the Minister of Finance, OLG outlined a proposal to transform lottery and gaming in Ontario to modernize the system and create jobs. By modernizing lottery and gaming, including initiatives already underway, in 2017, OLG will contribute an additional $1.3 billion annually to key public priorities; usher in $3 billion in private sector capital investment in the province; and help create approximately 2,300 net new jobs across Ontario and an estimated 4,000 service sector jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail sectors.
The report makes three key recommendations to reform Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry, all of which are subject to government approval:
• Become even more customer-focused
• Expand regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming
• Renew OLG role in oversight of lottery and gaming
Within the three recommendations of the report, there is a suggested municipal engagement change which states:
…Municipalities should continue to receive financial support from the gaming operations in their communities through a portion of gaming revenue for the benefit of the community. However, OLG should introduce a consistent fee model for host municipalities. This would facilitate the introduction, of a mix of games at sites. Funding levels should continue to be determined by customer volume.
Ontario’s existing 23 host gaming communities have enjoyed a favourable and financially fruitful relationship with OLG having accumulated approximately $815 million since 1998, including approximately $92 million over the last year from a payment from a percentage of slot revenues. The revenues which municipalities have received from OLG have been utilized at their discretion and have funded a variety of worthwhile community projects that have in turn, created many secondary economic benefits for the taxpayers of Ontario.
The report recommends that, as is the current practice, municipalities should continue to receive financial support from the gaming operations in their communities through a portion of gaming revenue for the benefit of the community. However, OLG should introduce a consistent fee model for host municipalities. This would facilitate the introduction of a mix of games at sites. Funding levels should continue to be determined by customer volume and will likely reflect some components of the current arrangements with the levels of funding remaining relatively the same.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
In “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, a report delivered to the Minister of Finance, OLG outlined a proposal to transform lottery and gaming in Ontario to modernize the system and create jobs. By modernizing lottery and gaming, including initiatives already underway, in 2017, OLG will contribute an additional $1.3 billion annually to key public priorities; usher in $3 billion in new private sector capital investment in the province; and help create some 2,300 net new jobs across Ontario and an estimated 4,000 service sector jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail sectors.
The report makes three key recommendations to reform Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry, all of which are subject to government approval:
• Become more customer-focused
• Expand regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming
• Renew OLG role in oversight of lottery and gaming
Ontarians enjoy gaming. Last year, more than eight million Ontarians played the lottery.
Within the three recommendations of the report, there are several suggested lottery changes including:
• Lottery network operation: some of the day-to-day operation of the network to be provided by regulated private sector through a competitive procurement process
• Multi-lane sales in large retail stores: to be an option for retailers
The report recommends the improvement of OLG’s lottery business so that it better corresponds to customer interests. Currently, OLG is responsible for provincial lotteries (PICK 3, PRO LINE and participates in national lotteries (eg. LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49). Ontarians purchase lottery products at over 10,000 retailers through a paper-based lottery ticket system.
With private sector investment, the terminals could be used to sell additional products and services, while maintaining the integrity of the game. Lottery terminals have the potential to provide many more services such as the ability to sell phone cards, gift cards and iTunes® products.
Other jurisdictions have expanded lottery ticket sales by allowing for sales on the internet and across all lanes in grocery stores. The report recommends the expansion of lottery terminal locations to multi-lanes in major retail outlets such as supermarkets and big box stores. Convenience stores will continue to play an important role in the distribution of lottery in the province. OLG is committed to working with current lottery tickets sellers to assess opportunities and ensure continued strong performance.
The report recommends that the private sector be engaged in the creation of lottery solutions while meeting responsible gambling standards and maintaining the integrity of the game. OLG has approval to launch lottery tickets (as is the case in B.C., Quebec and Atlantic Canada) through internet gaming in 2012-13.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
In “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario”, a report delivered to the Minister of Finance, OLG outlined a proposal to modernize gaming in Ontario to modernize the system and create jobs. By modernizing lottery and gaming and including initiatives already underway, in 2017 OLG will contribute an additional $1.3 billion annually to key public priorities; usher in $3 billion in new private sector capital investment in the province; and help create some 2,300 net new jobs across Ontario and an estimated 4,000 service sector jobs in the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail sectors.
The report makes three key recommendations to reform Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry, all of which are subject to government approval:
• Become more customer-focused
• Expand regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming
• Renew OLG role in oversight of lottery and gaming
Ontarians enjoy gaming. Last year, more than 2.7 million customers visited OLG facilities. Our customers are interested in safe, fun gaming entertainment in convenient locations.
OLG focused its early land-based gaming expansion in properties near the U.S. border to attract U.S. customers. Since 2002, visits from the U.S. have declined dramatically from 23 million annually to seven million annually in 2011. At the same time, many U.S. border communities have opened their own gaming facilities.
One of the key recommendations of the report targets the improvement of OLG’s land-based gaming business so that it better aligned to customer interests.
OLG’s consultations with stakeholders in 2011 revealed that they felt that the future of gaming should be determined by customers and the market. Expansion or closure of sites should be decided based on the level of customer interest. Stakeholders also suggested that OLG take advantage of the expertise of the private sector particularly to reduce the burden of capital investment on the government and the taxpayer.
To transform OLG’s business responsibly, OLG should expand the engagement of the private sector in order to modernize the lottery and gaming industry. OLG would allow private sector providers to run the day-to-day operation of sites, while increasing profit to the province, and maintaining responsible gaming standards as well as oversight of the business.
OLG facilities in need of capital improvements currently rely on public funds to do so. At the moment, existing OLG infrastructure is in need of $1 billion in capital investment to simply maintain current delivery.
Historically, location and size of all facilities has been determined based on priorities that are not always related to customer interest.
The report recommends that the private sector expand its role in the efficient, effective delivery of casino, gaming and lottery products while maintaining government control and OLG oversight of the business. This would be accomplished through the establishment of gaming zones. Through a fair and open competitive procurement process, the private sector could bid on the rights to operate in a zone.
As OLG moves toward shifting the daily operation of facilities to the private sector, OLG’s current direct employees at gaming sites could have the opportunity to work at privately-operated facilities.
Once the zones for gaming are established, there will be a determination about what is the best combination of offerings for a region. Any new sites would require appropriate oversight and responsible gambling standards as well as OLG, Minister and municipal approval. The private sector could also purchase assets that are required to operate the business.
Any future capital investment would be made by the private sector. This could create the conditions for some $3 billion in private capital investment in communities in Ontario.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
Gaming Customers
• Customers made more than 39 million visits to OLG gaming sites last year (F2011)
• 64% of Ontarians 19 years of age and older have made at least one visit to an Ontario casino or slots facility.
• 2.7 million Ontarians (or 27% of the adult population) 19 years of age and older have visited a casino or slots facility in the past 12 months.
• This group tends to have higher rates of community college education, full-time employment and household income.
• 77% of Ontarians who visit casinos or slot facilities are 51 years of age or older.
• Men and women visit casino or slot facilities equally. • The majority of casino/slot facility visitors, 89%, play slot machines; 24% play table games; 15% have placed a bet on horse races; and 3% have placed a sports bet. • 47% of slot and casino players in Ontario have annual incomes higher than $75,000
Lottery Customers
• Last year, 80% (or eight million Ontarians) played the lottery at least once.
• 51% play lotteries on a regular basis.
• A Core lottery player is someone who buys lottery tickets once a week or more. Approximately 21% of Ontario adults are Core lottery players.
• As a whole, lottery players tend to be aged 35-54, men and women playing equally, with higher rates of employment and a slightly higher household income than non- players.
• Lottery players tend to be older than non players. The largest group of players is between the ages of 35 and 54 with an average age of 48.
• The majority of lottery players (54%) purchases draw tickets only (e.g. LOTTO 6/49, LOTTO MAX). In comparison, only 4% of lottery players purchase Instant tickets exclusively. Almost 40% of players purchase both instant and draw tickets. Less than 6% of lottery players purchased a sports lottery ticket (PRO LINE, PRO PICKS or POINT SPREAD) in the past two months.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716
Many other Canadian jurisdictions have also expanded the private sector engagement in lottery and gaming. For example:
British Columbia
Since 1998, private operators have owned and operated casinos in British Columbia. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) determines where gaming facilities go. BCLC owns the games and the game management system as well as the loyalty program. BCLC works with the private sector on where and how gambling opportunities will be made available. Private sector providers supply the facilities and operate casinos.
Alberta
Since 1980, private operators have owned and operated casinos in Alberta. Slot machines are purchased and owned by AGLC. The service provider owns all other assets. AGLC monitors the network of slot machines through a remote system.
Nova Scotia
Since 1995, private operators have owned and operated the two destination casinos in Nova Scotia. All assets (gaming and non-gaming) are purchased and owned by the service provider; however ownership of all assets reverts back to NSGC upon contract termination.
New Brunswick
The first destination casino in New Brunswick was opened in May 2010. All assets (gaming and non-gaming) are purchased and owned by the service provider.
Copies of the report are available at www.olg.ca
For further information: OLG Media Relations, 1.888.946.6716