New casino? - Page 6

SteelTown · #**101** Posted **Dec 1, 2012, 5:12 PM**

Yesterday's casino sub committee was pretty interesting. They set up some conditions for staff to create. Some of them are:

Must include a hotel with a new casino
Must not interfere with HECFI operations
Casino part must not be central focus of the complex
Have public transit stop
Any casino location must go to an area that allows it with current zoning. Which means downtown, west Harbour and Flamborough.
Try to get some revenue from table games to mental health.

bigguy1231 · #**102** Posted **Dec 1, 2012, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yesterday's casino sub committee was pretty interesting. They set up some conditions for staff to create. Some of them are:

Must include a hotel with a new casino
Must not interfere with HECFI operations
Casino part must not be central focus of the complex
Have public transit stop
Any casino location must go to an area that allows it with current zoning. Which means downtown, west Harbour and Flamborough.
Try to get some revenue from table games to mental health.

They can impose all the conditions they want, but they won't amount to anything when it comes to the lottery corporation. All the lottery corporation wants to know is yes or no. They will determine where the casino is built, who runs it and it's configuration. The province doesn't need the city's permission to build a casino here, it's just a courtesy.

thistleclub · #**103** Posted **Dec 4, 2012, 1:11 AM**

You've heard about Gaming Zones. Now, get ready for Gaming Bundles:

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:

Ottawa Area (Zone E4)
East Gaming Bundle (Zones E1, E2, E3)
North Gaming Bundle (Zones N1, N2, N3, N4, N5)

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.

Pearlstreet · #**104** Posted **Dec 4, 2012, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yesterday's casino sub committee was pretty interesting. They set up some conditions for staff to create. Some of them are:

Must include a hotel with a new casino
Must not interfere with HECFI operations
Casino part must not be central focus of the complex
Have public transit stop
Any casino location must go to an area that allows it with current zoning. Which means downtown, west Harbour and Flamborough.
Try to get some revenue from table games to mental health.

Why not just say in the guidelines; "Must be in the Royal Connaught", because it pretty well says that.

thistleclub · #**105** Posted **Dec 4, 2012, 4:36 PM**

From the OLG’s Modernization Plan:

“OLG will roll out a standardized suite of paper and electronic games to all interested bingo halls in Ontario. (The suite of games will not include slot machines.) OLG will offer Bingo, Break-Open Tickets, Raffles and Lottery games or variations of these games to be played on paper, electronic devices or delivered through electronic dispensing units. Over eight years of operation, this Charitable Bingo and Gaming initiative will deliver about $475 million for Ontario charities. This initiative will create hundreds of part-time jobs while preserving the role of the thousands of volunteers who are currently involved in community-based charitable activity.”

Delta Bingo owner Cameron Johnstone was cited as a stakeholder in that plan, which was an omen. Now page 52 of the OLG’s RFPQ releases confirm that, unsurprisingly, 45 King East is on track for just this kind of gaming expansion.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**106** Posted **Dec 5, 2012, 12:29 AM**

This is all very depressing...

To me, it would appear this province is in its death throes.

The rest of the country isn't doing much better either.

SteelTown · #**107** Posted **Dec 14, 2012, 2:28 PM**

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/colum...t-it-both-ways

Guess we should immediately close the LCBO at Jackson Square.

thistleclub · #**108** Posted **Dec 17, 2012, 5:38 PM**

Games behind the games...

Onex Corp. warns Toronto councillors of casino perils, eyes Markham as location
(Toronto Star, David Rider, Dec 16, 2012)

While U.S. casino giants eagerly woo Toronto, Bay Street buyout firm Onex Corp. is playing a different game.

Onex, with holdings including the Las Vegas Tropicana casino-hotel and four Alberta casinos, has hired former city councillor Kyle Rae and Dave McCleary of Strategy Corp. to lobby councillors

Instead of urging them to put out the welcome mat for a downtown casino, the Onex lobbyists are highlighting potential downsides and pouring cold water on predictions of a revenue and jobs bonanza in a city staff report.

“I’m mostly talking to members of council predominately sympathetic to not having a casino and providing them with more information,” said Rae, a longtime casino opponent, now a consultant for real estate developers.

A downtown casino complex with mall, convention space, theatre and hotel would worsen Toronto’s gridlock and take profits from neighbouring businesses, Rae is telling them. “It would negatively impact the local economy,” he said.

durandy · #**109** Posted **Dec 17, 2012, 10:22 PM**

I love when developers do this - play for the other side for a while for totally contrary purposes. What anti-casino people need to do is find an operator willing to take over Flamborough and make the case there - then you get the big lobbying and legal money to really make change.

It's similar to the Aerotropolis, where one of the parties against is the 20 road landowners, who are opposed because they want the urban growth to go on their land instead of the airport. So they're temporary activists talking about the inflated forecasts for airport growth, even as they assure us there will be plenty of growth in Elfrida.

mattgrande · #**110** Posted **Dec 18, 2012, 1:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by durandy

I love when developers do this - play for the other side for a while for totally contrary purposes. What anti-casino people need to do is find an operator willing to take over Flamborough and make the case there - then you get the big lobbying and legal money to really make change.

It's similar to the Aerotropolis, where one of the parties against is the 20 road landowners, who are opposed because they want the urban growth to go on their land instead of the airport. So they're temporary activists talking about the inflated forecasts for airport growth, even as they assure us there will be plenty of growth in Elfrida.

To be fair, have you been to Elfrida lately? I can't believe how built up it's become.

thistleclub · #**111** Posted **Jan 4, 2013, 5:10 PM**

More on the bingosino front:

The Ugly Truth Behind The OLG Bingo Expansion
(Standardbred Canada, Darryl Kaplan, Jan 3, 2013)

The largest gaming expansion in the history of Ontario is taking place as we speak, and one of the most controversial components to it, the bingo expansion, is not being covered adequately by our major media outlets.

While debate rages over urban casinos that will likely arrive into our cities, full fledged gaming centres are set to pop up under the noses of millions of Ontarians – they are called bingo halls.

While the lack of coverage by the National Post, whose CEO is Paul Godfrey, head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, is understandable, the other major news outlets are dropping the bingo ball. Rather than cover the story, they continue to publish taxpayer funded OLG advertorials touting the program as a “win-win" for Ontarians.

But while government advertising touts the benefits of the program, the truth is perplexing and disturbing.

In an article on mykawartha.com on July 13, 2012, Rui Brum, a spokesperson for OLG, celebrated the modernization of Delta Bingo, a hall that according to the article was “recently purchased” by major players Boardwalk Gaming and Delta Bingo. The following is a quote, from the piece: “Mr. Brum stresses one thing: The machines aren't slot machines, and there is no plan to bring slots to bingo halls.”

While the OLG has been resolute in this assertion, Trot Insider has a sneak peak at the machines that are indeed now installed and operational at Delta Bingo in Peterborough.

As you can see, the terminals are self contained, and have computer generated symbols that look exactly like slot machines. With names like 'Hot N Saucy' and 'Dynamite Diamonds' they sound exactly like slot machines. And with the ability to take cash and return payout receipts, they act the same as slot machines.

Mr. Brum’s perplexing assertion is one that has been made repeatedly by the OLG. Could Brum be referring to the machine’s lack of a pull-handle (something that has been fazed out on most slots)? Or some different words on the touch-screen terminals, indicating the units are not in fact slot machines? Regardless, the game of semantics being played by the OLG is a practice of deception. Calling these machines “play-on-demand” or “electronic break-open machines” does not change what they are, or what they do.

After shutting down Slots-at-Racetracks facilities in Sarnia, Windsor and Fort Erie, one might wonder why the OLG decided to purchase brand new machines rather than using existing mothballed machines. Was that done to avoid calling these machines slots?

realcity · #**112** Posted **Jan 4, 2013, 6:32 PM**

I wish we could see some examples from some proponents. We can dream can't we.?

I wonder how anti casiNO people would be if/when we see something like this.?

I bet if the Mercanti's have anything to do with it, it will be classy like this.

retro fitted on this.

CaptainKirk · #**113** Posted **Jan 4, 2013, 7:19 PM**

It's not just about a fancy building to you, is it?

No picture of a fancy building, no matter how nice, makes any argument for or against a casino. For me at least.

fuller · #**114** Posted **Jan 4, 2013, 8:11 PM**

A Magritte-like sign posted atop each unit could read something like `This is not a slot machine`.

For short, they could be called `tsnot machines.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**115** Posted **Jan 5, 2013, 3:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by realcity

I wonder how anti casiNO people would be if/when we see something like this.?

I bet if the Mercanti's have anything to do with it, it will be classy like this.

I can't tell if you're being ironic or not. Is that really what passes as classy to you? Klassy maybe. Perhaps you've been on the Mountain too long. Faux columns and stucco have definitely gone to your head.

drpgq · #**116** Posted **Jan 5, 2013, 5:02 AM**

The Kawartha article makes a good point in that OLG is such a huge advertiser that local media is probably reluctant to go full bore against them.

coalminecanary · #**117** Posted **Jan 5, 2013, 6:45 PM**

What are they going to do? Stop advertising? Advertise in the other paper? Oh wait....

thistleclub · #**118** Posted **Jan 9, 2013, 3:20 PM**

More ink from Ottawa:

Weighing the risks (Ottawa Citizen, Louisa Taylor, Jan 4, 2013)
Betting on the future (Ottawa Citizen, Louisa Taylor, Jan 7, 2013)

SteelTown · #**119** Posted **Jan 11, 2013, 2:16 PM**

Suppose to finally see casino's proposal soon

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/colum...iting-in-wings

Apparently one of the interested group is narrowed down to MGM, Wynn, Ceasers or Las Vegas Sands.

coalminecanary · #**120** Posted **Jan 11, 2013, 3:22 PM**

According to the OLG, income from american gamblers has dropped almost 90%

Quote:

Over the past
10 years, the profits from gaming facilities close to the
U.S. border have dropped from $800 million in 2001 to
$100 million in 2011. Resort casinos alone have declined
by over $600 million.

They are adamant "There WILL be a casino in the GTA, even if Toronto says no to one". There is already one in Niagara.

so.... where are these gambling tourists supposed to be coming from? Winnipeg? Grimsby?

For every 4 million in slots revenue that Hamilton keeps, 80 million is funneled to the olg, who will share some percentage with a US based private operator. I'm not sure if we know that percentage, but that's basically turning around the casino model that was built on taking american money. Now we'll be giving it to them.

This is supposed to help the ontario economy how exactly?

Ya this is a great idea.