New casino?

[thistleclub]

Featuring a cameo from everyone's favourite Interim Integrity Commisioner (or thereabouts).

Council’s power to put strings on Toronto casino approval questioned
(Globe and Mail, Elizabeth Church, April 23 2013)

A Toronto real estate company fighting plans for a casino at Exhibition Place is questioning whether city council has the legal ability to put strings on its approval of a downtown gambling complex.

First Capital Realty, a mall owner with major holdings at Liberty Village, is arguing that under provincial regulations, city council has no ability to give conditional approval to casino plans.

“A vote yes on a conditional resolution for a casino does not comply with provincial legislation and First Capital Realty is prepared to take all necessary steps to challenge that outcome,” states a letter sent Monday to Mayor Rob Ford and the members of his executive committee.

The executive committee last week voted to support a downtown casino and the expansion of existing gambling facilities at Woodbine Racetrack, recommending that council say yes provided more than 40 conditions are met.

In its letter, the real estate firm notes that such conditional approval is not addressed in the provincial lottery and gaming act or in the regulations that govern the establishment of a “gaming site.”

Toronto lawyer George Rust-D’Eye, a municipal law expert, said the company’s letter raises a valid question that has not been tested in the courts.

“It is certainly a grey area,” he said. “There is nothing in the regulation that says this decision can be made conditionally.”

[thistleclub]

Wynne seeks successor for OLG chair Godfrey amid questions over strategy
(Globe and Mail, Karen Howlett, Renata D'Aliesio, Elizabeth Church & Adam Radwanski, May 13 2013)

The Ontario government has compiled a shortlist of candidates to succeed Paul Godfrey as chairman of the province’s lottery corporation, as Premier Kathleen Wynne grows increasingly frustrated with the agency’s handling of sweeping changes to the gambling sector.

Ms. Wynne is questioning the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s privatization and expansion strategy endorsed by her predecessors, according to government sources. She is no fan of the proposal to build a downtown Toronto casino, the sources said. She has raised concerns about several key OLG decisions and ordered the Crown agency to nix plans to cut Toronto a special financial deal, if city councillors voted for a casino.

A Globe and Mail analysis that found executive compensation at the OLG had soared at a time when the government has asked for a salary freeze for managers in the public sector further escalated tensions between the government and Mr. Godfrey, the sources said.

And now, Ms. Wynne appears to be undercutting Mr. Godfrey’s say over the horse-racing industry. This week, the Premier, who is also the province’s Agriculture Minister, will announce that she has resurrected a panel of former cabinet ministers to take the lead on developing a blueprint to integrate horse racing with OLG’s plan to modernize gambling. The OLG scrapped the slots-at-racetracks funding program, which ignited a backlash against the Liberals in rural Ontario....

The horse-racing industry was thrown into turmoil in March, 2012, when the OLG and the McGuinty government suddenly announced they were scrapping the slots-at-racetracks funding program. The move ignited anger in rural Ontario, where the Liberals were already politically vulnerable because of opposition to industrial wind farms. Revenue from government-owned slot machines – more than $3.4-billion since 1998 – has kept many of the province’s racetracks afloat.

To stem the political backlash, the government appointed a panel of three former cabinet ministers, Conservative John Snobelen, Liberal John Wilkinson and New Democrat Elmer Buchanan, last June to review funding for the horse-racing industry. The ex-politicians delivered their final report in the fall, but Ms. Wynne is now turning to the panel again, asking it – not the OLG – to take the lead on developing a plan to integrate horse racing with the province’s gambling strategy in time for the 2014 racing season.

The Wynne government plans to release details of the panel’s new mandate this week. It will also reveal how much transitional funding it is providing racetracks: $180-million over three years, a government source said.

[thistleclub]

Liberals sticking to OLG revamp despite mixed signals
(Toronto Star, Robert Benzie, May 13 2013)

Premier Kathleen Wynne’s cash-strapped minority Liberals are sticking with a revamp to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation despite mixed signals.

Amid confusion over the fledgling government’s plans for its gambling monopoly, Finance Minister Charles Sousa emphasized “the modernization of the OLG is proceeding, it is continuing.”

“It’s going to provide a substantial amount of money for education, health care and social programs so that’s not going to stop,” he told reporters Monday.

Indeed, the government needs the additional $1.3 billion or so in annual revenue from the gaming agency if the deficit is to be eliminated on schedule in 2017-18....

Wynne and Sousa sat at the cabinet table when Duncan and former premier Dalton McGuinty pushed the de facto privatization of OLG to generate billions more for the treasury.

Still, they have begun undoing some their predecessors’ work, including earmarking some $180 million over three years to subsidize a horse-racing industry that once received $345 million annually, which McGuinty maintained was not sustainable.

“We’re still going to provide for a very vibrant horseracing and horse-breeding industry,” said Sousa.

But senior Liberals warn that diluting the OLG modernization — such the concessions to the horse-racing industry as well as any possible scaling back of new casinos in and around Toronto — would have dire consequences for the treasury.

“We need that money to balance the books on schedule. OLG is an essential part of eliminating the deficit,” noted one Grit.

“The financial implications are huge,” agreed another high-ranking government source.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^The Province is addicted to gambling. Nice one.

[thistleclub]

OLG PR:

New Hosting Fee Formula to Benefit All OLG Host Municipalities

TORONTO – OLG will use a new and equitable formula to determine the fee municipalities receive for hosting an OLG gaming facility. The new formula, which will be part of the Municipality Contribution Agreement (MCA), will provide more money for host municipalities and be the same across the province.

“OLG supports the local economies of our host communities across Ontario,” said Rod Phillips, President and CEO. “In addition to hosting fees, OLG’s current and future host communities benefit from local job creation, economic development, capital investments and property tax revenue.”

Under the new MCA formula, host municipalities will receive:

• 5.25% on the first $65 million of slot revenue;
• 3.0% on the next $135 million of slot revenue;
• 2.5% on the next $300 million of slot revenue;
• 0.5% on slot revenue above $500 million; and
• the new element, 4.0% on table game revenue.

The new formula will be applied to hosting fees retroactive to April 1, 2013.

In March 2013, at the request of the Premier of Ontario, OLG took a fresh look at its funding formula for host municipalities. OLG then presented the government with results of its review. The principles of fairness and equal treatment guided OLG’s review of the formula and the determination of the new formula.

Based on the new formula and implementing OLG’s modernization plan, OLG would expect to provide over $50 Million more annually to host municipalities by 2017-18.

OLG currently provides nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government to help fund provincial priorities. Modernization will enable OLG to increase that contribution to more than $3 billion.

[SteelTown]

That might be a game changer.

[thistleclub]

Another Delta modernization was announced yesterday.

OLG PR:

New Charitable Gaming Products Available In Niagara Falls

TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), together with the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association and Commercial Gaming Association have completed the next stage of the revitalization of charitable gaming in Niagara Falls.

The purpose of the revitalization of charitable gaming is to provide local charities with a sustainable source of revenue; to enable gaming centre operators to offer new products and services to remain competitive and support employment; and to offer customers the experience of new electronic gaming options.

The Delta Monte Carlo Gaming Centre in Niagara Falls will now offer customers new electronic versions of traditional games that have been played at Bingo centres for years. These new electronic games will complement the existing paper bingo games.

Product / Opening Date
Electronic Bingo / May 22
Tap Tix / June 27

“We are pleased that these innovations to traditional bingo hall games will bring a new dimension of fun and excitement for our customers,” said George Sweny, Senior Vice President of Internet and Charitable Gaming at OLG. “By introducing electronic versions of games that people have been enjoying for years, we provide a new method for charitable fundraising for the Windsor community. “

In 2005 OLG introduced an e-bingo pilot project at six sites throughout Ontario. Over the last seven years this project increased the revenue raised for Ontario charities by $43-million.

“Moving from traditional paper-based games to a new electronic version we are able to revitalize the charitable gaming industry and provide a sustainable source of revenue for our associated charities to continue their important work in the Windsor area.” said Lynn Cassidy, Executive Director of the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association.

More charitable gaming centres across the province will complete their revitalization in the coming months.

[thistleclub]

GCGC PR:

Great Canadian Gaming Reaches Definitive Agreements For Transition Funding For Horse Racing At Georgian Downs And Flamboro Downs

May 24, 2013 – Richmond, BC – Today, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] (“Great Canadian” or “the Company”) announced that it has signed definitive agreements with the Government of Ontario for horse racing transition funding. This funding will provide support to continue horse racing at the Company’s Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs racetracks for up to two years beyond March 31, 2013 as Ontario’s horse racing industry adapts to a more sustainable model.

Under the terms of these agreements, the Company will receive transition funding from the provincial government for track operations at its Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs racetracks. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2014, the Company expects that Georgian Downs will run approximately 25 race days over a three-month period and Flamboro Downs will run approximately 100 race days over a six-month period. The exact numbers of race days are subject to approval by the Ontario Racing Commission.

“Thanks to the efforts of both the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Finance, we are pleased to be able to continue to host live horse racing fans at Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs,” stated Mr. Howard Blank, Great Canadian’s Vice President of Communications, Entertainment and Responsible Gaming. “The finalization of these agreements is good news for the short term future of horse racing in Ontario. We are committed to working with the Provincial Government and the Province’s horse racing industry to pursue a longer term, more sustainable business model for horseracing in Ontario.”

[thistleclub]

Gaming Bundle 4 is up for grabs.

OLG PR:

OLG Modernization of Gaming Continues to Proceed with RFPQ for Southwest Ontario
May 29, 2013

TORONTO – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) continues its modernization of the province’s lottery and gaming industry with the launch of the Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) for the Southwest Gaming Bundle.

“The RFPQ we’re issuing today will allow us to pre-qualify service providers for specific day-to-day operations of gaming sites in six Gaming Zones in Southwestern Ontario,” said Rod Phillips, OLG President and CEO. “It represents another step forward in the modernization of gaming in Ontario.”

Interested service providers are required to submit proposals for the entire Southwest Gaming Bundle as set out in the RFPQ. This means that service providers are being asked to demonstrate their ability to operate all six facilities in the Southwest Gaming Bundle, not for individual Gaming Zones or gaming sites contained within the bundle.

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 must also provide information on any business or other relationships that they have had with First Nations and First Nations communities.

They must also have submitted an application for registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the regulator of lottery and gaming in Ontario. The RFPQ process will allow OLG to create a list of service providers who will then be eligible to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for the Southwest Gaming Bundle. As part of the RFP process, pre-qualified service providers will be able to propose the construction of a new gaming site anywhere within an OLG-defined geographic Gaming Zone, where there is municipal support.

“It’s important to remember that before a site is built or relocated, the host municipality, the private sector operator, OLG and the Ontario government need to be in agreement,” said Phillips. “As part of this procurement process, OLG will ensure that potential operators understand the wishes of the host municipality.”

OLG is releasing RFPQs for the modernization of gaming in stages, and the Southwest Gaming Bundle is the fourth RFPQ issued for gaming....

Interested service providers must respond to the RFPQ by August 8, 2013.

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.


There are 12 Gaming Zones in the Southwest quadrant, half of which fall outside the above Gaming Bundle. Remaining are SW1 (Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge), SW2 (Brantford/Brant), SW9 (Hamilton/Burlington), SW10/11 (Niagara Falls) and SW12 (Windsor).

[thistleclub]

Deadbeat parents to have bingo winnings deducted
(Toronto Sun, Antonella Artuso, June 14 2013)

As the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) expands its bingo reach in the province, big winners are finding they end up losing big if they owe child support arrears.

Rob Newman, a spokesperson for Community and Social Services Minister Ted McMeekin, said in an e-mail that winners of $1,000 or more prizes are required to provide personal details to claim the funds at all OLG-affiliated bingo halls.

The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) has provided the names of ‘deadbeat’ parents to the OLG.

“The bingo hall does not release the prize money if the player’s name is a hit on the list of FRO payors in arrears sent to OLG,” Newman said. “If the winner’s name is on the list of FRO payors in arrears, OLG confirms with FRO how much is to be deducted and then remits any balance to the winner.”

[thistleclub]

Another Delta goes electronic. OLG PR:

Charitable Bingo and Gaming REvitalization to Benefit Local Charities in Brampton

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), together with the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA) and Commercial Gaming Association of Ontario (CGAO) have made further progress in the revitalization of charitable bingo and gaming in Brampton 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.

“We are pleased that these innovations to traditional bingo centre games will bring a new dimension of fun and excitement for our customers,” said George Sweny, Senior Vice President of Charitable and iGaming at OLG. “By introducing electronic versions of games that people have been enjoying for years in bingo halls we provide customers with a new way to play their favourite games and help sustain charitable fundraising in local communities.

Brampton’s Delta Bingo now offers customers the choice of new electronic games or the traditional paper-based games that have been played at Bingo centres for years.

Charitable Gaming Centre | Opening Date

Delta Bingo Brampton | August 22

“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 in additional funds has been raised for Ontario charities.

More charitable gaming centres across the province will complete their revitalization in the coming months.


Also: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, which owns Flamboro Downs, is undertaking a multi-million dollar renovation and rebranding of its Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam, BC.

[thistleclub]

Recommendations from Five-Year Partnership Plan for Ontario, the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel’s Final Report:


Restructuring Horse Racing

• Work with the industry to support the development of a standardbred racing alliance to operate a world-class racing circuit within a commercially viable shipping area. The alliance should be comprised of eight centrally located tracks: Hanover, Clinton, Grand River, Western Fair, Flamboro, Georgian, Mohawk and Woodbine. One horsepersons group should be created for the alliance tracks by vote of all licensed members.
• Work with the industry to support a series of standardbred races at regional tracks.
• Work with the industry to support a full season of signature and premier thoroughbred racing at Woodbine.
• Work with the industry to:
- support a calendar of 30 days of quarter horse racing at Ajax Downs
- support the introduction of limited quarter horse racing at Woodbine
- support a limited series of thoroughbred races at Ajax Downs.

Reforming Industry Governance

• Create a new industry development arm of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC), to be known as Ontario Live Racing (OLR), to provide overall management of the horse racing industry. OLR should employ a consultative process with stakeholders prior to making funding decisions.
• Administer thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse racing through separate breed divisions.
• OLR should obtain input from horseplayer representatives to gain a consumer perspective, and seek advice from experts on equine welfare issues.
• Restructure the ORC board to reflect the additional skills required to oversee the industry development side of horse racing.
• Firewall the ORC's operations into distinct regulatory and industry development functions. Ensure the industry development arm - OLR - possesses the leadership capabilities to develop the Ontario racing network and implement the Five-Year Partnership Plan.
• The ORC should take immediate action to reduce regulatory costs per race date to a level competitive with other jurisdictions.

Public Investment in Horse Racing

• Provide public funding of up to $400 million over five years to the horse racing industry, subject to appropriate benchmarks and agreements.
• Review the government's funding commitment after the third year of the plan, with a view to renewal for a further five years if public policy objectives and benchmarks have been achieved.
• Put a focus on live racing by allotting public funds to the three breed divisions through OLR based primarily on their contribution to commissions from wagering on live racing.
• Require each racetrack to have a plan to build the fan base and optimize community and commercial support for racing as a condition for receiving public funds.
• Fund a racing series at regional tracks on the basis of the historic racing calendar, horse supply, local wagering and support from the track or municipality.
• Provide limited funding for a festival thoroughbred meet in Fort Erie in conjunction with regional tourism activities.
• Retain the Pari-Mutuel Tax Reduction (PMTR) but redesign the distribution of this tax benefit to reflect the needs of the Five-Year Partnership Plan.
• Through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF), develop objectives and benchmarks to measure the industry's performance in serving the public interest, with an initial set of metrics in place by April 1, 2014.
• Revise OMAF's accountability agreement with the ORC to put more emphasis on transparency and timely communications.
• Continue to provide funding to the Horse Improvement Program from the PMTR and top up to $30 million as required.
• Assign OLR to design and manage horse improvement programs until the industry is ready to assume these responsibilities.

Integrating Horse Racing into Ontario's Gaming Strategy

• The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) should enhance the gaming offering at appropriate racetracks to realize the potential of tracks as gaming centres.
• The OLG and the racing industry should work together to enhance the off-track wagering offering with new racing-themed products, while respecting federal and provincial legislation. Net proceeds of any new products should be shared on an equitable basis between the racing industry and the OLG.
• Require all racetracks receiving public funds to invest any new net proceeds of OLG gaming activities into the support of live racing.
• Designate the entire province as a single home market area. The government should work with the ORC to select one provider to operate advance-deposit wagering and one provider to operate off-track wagering sites. Net revenues from non-track wagering should be distributed among racetracks mainly according to their contribution to commissions from wagering on live racing.

[thistleclub]

Vaughan kills casino plan
(Toronto Star, San Grewal, Oct 15 2013)

Vaughan councillors have voted 5-4 to kill the idea of a casino in their city, turning around a 5-4 vote in favour of pursuing one back in May.

The swing vote was cast by deputy mayor Gino Rosati, who told residents minutes before his motion to kill the plan passed that he’d learned since May “that the vast majority of you do not want a casino in the city of Vaughan.”

The move by Vaughan council, which will have to give final approval to killing the casino at the upcoming council meeting, means the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is without a willing partner in the GTA....

Tuesday’s vote means Mississauga and Richmond Hill are the only two locations remaining on OLG’s list of potential partners. Mississauga councillors have stated they have little interest in the idea.

[Beedok]

Well if Toronto isn't building one then Hamilton doing so might actually make some sense, that way we'd have some chance of drawing in tourist dollars. Now if only they'd stick it somewhere beside a highway, like Confederation Park.

[thistleclub]

Last November, Richmond Hill seemed less than enthused. That was apparently still the case in late March:

Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow told the Star he knows that if Toronto slams the door on a casino, the pressure on his community to accept one will increase. “I guess we’d have to see what’s happening, but… most resident feedback in Richmond Hill is they are opposed to a casino here.”

[thistleclub]

Casino opportunities continue to shrink in Greater Toronto
(Toronto Star, Tim Alamenciak, Oct 21 2013)

The prospects of a newly built gambling complex coming to the GTA soon continue to dim with Vaughan’s 5-4 vote against it, but longtime municipal politicians say the debate is far from over.

The City of Vaughan was the latest to put the brakes on the idea of a casino, echoing the appetite of other western GTA locations approached by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. as part of its “modernization” expansion effort — an attempt to add $1.3-billion to provincial coffers.

Only two municipalities have yet to officially weigh in on hosting a casino: Richmond Hill and Mississauga. Neither is open to the idea of a major gaming complex. The City of Mississauga has yet to be approached formally by OLG or any company, said Councillor Pat Saito, but is no stranger to the prospect of a casino within its borders.

OLG has been looking for a new construction location in the GTA, but it can only go in one of four zones which include Vaughan, Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill and Mississauga. Three of the five municipalities have formally shut down the idea.

In the past, Mayor Hazel McCallion has only said she’s willing to listen to residents.

Saito has held her seat for 22 years and sees little desire for a casino among her 110,000 constituents. She has dealt with this before — in the mid-’90s the city said no to a Las Vegas-style casino.

“It sort of floats back up. Somebody comes forward and thinks it would be a great idea again. The GTA is a very attractive market for someone to come in and build a casino,” said Saito.

While a battle may await casinos in Mississauga, Richmond Hill is more clear-cut.

“We have no interest in hosting a casino,” said Mayor Dave Barrow. “We’ve never taken a vote to say yes or no, but when information came forward . . . talking about the potential for a casino, we just received it and took no action.”

Barrow says not only is there little interest, but there is little land available that would be suitable for a mega-complex because it sits on the edge of the OLG’s gaming zone.

“If we were to place it where most municipalities seem to be placing it, as far away from residential properties as we could, we would literally have to place it on Highway 7,” said Barrow....

The City of Toronto roundly rejected a major downtown casino with a 40-4 vote, quashing the possibility that the issue would come up again during this council term. But Saito, who has seen casino votes before, says even if all the municipalities reject the idea, it won’t be the end of the discussion.

[ScreamingViking]

That will surely amp up the figures that get thrown around for debate in Hamilton.

[SteelTown]

Dreschel: RockHammer still holding cards in casino game

The debate over a new casino may be taking a breather, but it hasn't gone away by a long shot.

The RockHammer corporation, which wants to build a $200-million hotel-casino downtown, is alive and kicking and eagerly awaiting Ontario Lottery and Gaming's cattle call for Hamilton proposals.

RockHammer spokesperson Mark McSporran says the partnership between the Carmen's Group, LIUNA pension fund and Hard Rock International, fully intends to take part in OLG's upcoming tendering process.

McSporran says the partners may even submit a bid to operate a casino-entertainment complex at Flamboro Downs, if that's the site ultimately chosen for expanded gambling.

"As long as it makes sense to us when the numbers are run, then absolutely we're going to look at any scenario."

McSporran is a former OLG senior manager hired by Carmen's as a consultant. He says RockHammer's "grand vision" for an entertainment destination hasn't changed, but the concept is evolving.

"There's no question that there is still work that we're conducting. However, because this is a competitive process, that's something that we are keeping to ourselves right now."

http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story...n-casino-game/

[movingtohamilton]

I'll make a bet that the lack of enthusiasm for a new casino in the GTA will inevitably lead to one in Hamilton, and that it will be built in the downtown core. Rockhammer's power to build it is unstoppable. "Community" opposition is a mere irritant.

Takers?

[mattgrande]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

I'll make a bet that the lack of enthusiasm for a new casino in the GTA will inevitably lead to one in Hamilton, and that it will be built in the downtown core. Rockhammer's power to build it is unstoppable. "Community" opposition is a mere irritant.

Takers?

I'm betting you're right, even if it's not my desired outcome.

That being said, if there isn't one built in Toronto (ie, if Hamilton's is the only full casino in the GTHA), then maybe, just maybe, it could be successful, if done right.

I'm still pulling for Flamborough, personally.