New casino?

[Pearlstreet]

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]

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]

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.

[thistleclub]

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.

[SteelTown]

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

Guess we should immediately close the LCBO at Jackson Square.

[thistleclub]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[fuller]

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.

[SteelTown]

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.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

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.

Those are the groups who have expressed an interest in building a Toronto casino, not Hamilton.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

Those are the groups who have expressed an interest in building a Toronto casino, not Hamilton.

And one of those group mentioned is interested in having a casino in Hamilton.

[coalminecanary]

OLG wants casino operators that have experience operating casinos. That pretty much means American companies.

There is no way, mathematically, for this to benefit any of us.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

OLG wants casino operators that have experience operating casinos. That pretty much means American companies.

There is no way, mathematically, for this to benefit any of us.

Property taxes and the city's cut of the gaming revenue will benefit us.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

And one of those group mentioned is interested in having a casino in Hamilton.

Possibly in anticipation of the second wave of Gaming Bundles.

[thistleclub]

On Monday, the OLG offered another brief glimpse into its planned revitalization of charitable gaming centres:

"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:

•Electronic Bingo: Electronic Bingo Centres offer terminals with touch screens that allow players to touch the screen to dab the numbers and play along.
•Play On Demand (POD): A collection of electronic games that can be played anytime, with great prizes to be won.
•Break Open Ticket dispenser: The evolution of the classic Break Open Ticket features an interactive display screen on a ticket dispenser.

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."

[coalminecanary]

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

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.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

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

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.

The income has dropped from the American customers because they have built their own casino's and are doing a better job running them than the ones here. They know how to treat their customers well.

I go to casino's frequently, I play nickel slots. I rarely go to casino's in Ontario. I go to Seneca casino in Niagara Falls NY. The reason for that is that I get more freebies there than I do here. I never take more than $200 and for that I get free food, $75 per week, free play $100 per week and 2 nights accomodation per week free in a hotel that makes any hotel in this city look like a fleabag. I also get free drinks, alcohol as well and can smoke anywhere I want in the facility

I used to go to Flamboro and the most I ever got from them is $10 in free play and that was a one time only. Their restaurant closes at 11 pm and trying to get a free meal out of them is like pulling teeth. The smoking area they have outside has heaters but they are rarely on and forget about getting a free alcoholic drink. In a nutshell, the OLG casino's here suck. Fallsview in Niagara Falls is a little better but nowhere near what you get at the American casino's.

The Seneca nation has just opened another casino in downtown Buffalo and I am getting freebies from them as well and I have never even been there.

[mattgrande]

If OLG turns a profit, where does that money go?