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OLG to seek private bids on Flamboro Downs
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Oct 24 2016)

Ontario's gaming corporation is finally seeking private-sector proposals for gambling operations in Hamilton three years after council vetoed the idea of a downtown casino.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued a request for proposals Oct. 20 to a secret list of "pre-qualified proponents" expected to bid to run the Crown corporation's gaming sites in Hamilton, Brantford, Elora and Campbellville.

Three years ago, the OLG "modernization" push prompted a glitzy pitch by the Mercanti family to build a $200-million hotel and casino downtown — followed by a loud public debate over the merits of a gambling destination in the impoverished core.

But the protest faded after a political overhaul of OLG and a council vote to make Flamboro Downs the preferred gambling site. In theory, council's motion leaves open the prospect of looking elsewhere if a bidder can prove to the city Flamboro Downs is not "viable" for a proposed development.

"But the reality is any idea of revisiting a downtown casino at this stage is a non-starter," said Coun. Sam Merulla, a longtime opponent of that proposal.

"I've heard no rumblings of lobbying to revisit our decision. … We're focused on projects like LRT that actually create assessment growth and improve peoples' quality of life."

The planned privatization is still important to the city because Hamilton receives a nearly $5-million cut of revenue from the existing Flamboro Downs slots, noted city business development manager Norm Schleehahn.

"From the city's perspective, that's probably the minimum benchmark we would like to see in a proposal," he said.

In the past, casino proponents suggested such a development would increase the city's take of gambling revenue.

But growing Flamboro Downs is technically difficult because the city is not supposed to extend sewer and water service into the protected Greenbelt, noted Coun. Rob Pasuta.…

In a short release, the OLG said it would not reveal the names of the three to five pre-qualified bidders for the Hamilton and area gaming sites. A successful bid is expected to be announced in the fall of 2017. An OLG official is expected to speak to council Nov. 16.


Read it in full here.