New casino?

[ScreamingViking]

CBC story on the AG's report:

OLG plan hinged on downtown Hamilton casino: auditor
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...itor-1.2624918

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had an internal goal to put a casino in downtown Hamilton by winter 2015, shows a new report from Ontario’s auditor general. And that's news to at least one city councillor.

Bonnie Lysyk’s report shows that the OLG’s 2012 modernization plan — which she dubbed “overly ambitious” and “overly optimistic” — hinged on councils such as Hamilton’s agreeing to a downtown casino.

Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 8, who was "leaning toward" a downtown casino, says that is "not at all" what he heard from OLG officials.

"My impression was that it was the geographic zones and that it would be bidded on, and that the preference (for location) could be dictated by council," he said.

Opponents say it’s no surprise that the OLG aimed for a downtown gaming centre, but they never heard it explicitly stated.

“I’m certainly not surprised,” said Matthew Green, a local anti-casino advocate, about the goal of a downtown Hamilton casino.

“All of their actions around the consultation process and around their dealings with council show that they favoured a downtown casino."

Graham Crawford, who also rallied against a downtown casino, said he’s never heard the goal stated as clearly as it was in Lysyk’s report.

But “it was always clear by paying attention to what the OLG had said that that’s exactly what was on the table.”

The proposed goal of a downtown Hamilton casino came from private OLG documents Lysyk viewed as part of her audit, she told CBC Hamilton. The plan also included pulling the slots from Flamboro Downs.

Lysyk examination of the modernization plan, released Monday, shows the plan was “overly ambitious” and “overly optimistic” about the money the plan would generate. It also assumed city councils would approve downtown casinos.

The OLG originally projected casinos in Hamilton and elsewhere would bring in an additional $4.6 billion in gaming profits between 2013 and 2015. But the OLG later lowered that projection by 48 per cent, or about $2.2 billion.

Lysyk estimates the actual benefits could be 60 per cent less than forecasted.

The OLG also abruptly cancelled the Slots at Racetracks program, which hurt the horse-racing industry in Flamborough and elsewhere. The program saw horse racers share a portion of the slot revenue.

“OLG developed its modernization plan without sufficiently consulting such stakeholders as municipalities and the horse-racing industry,” Lysyk said.

“The profit estimates should have been more realistic, and the abrupt impact on the horse-racing industry could have been mitigated had more people been consulted beforehand.”

After much community debate, Hamilton city council passed a resolution last year that its first preference was to have gaming at Flamboro Downs, but if that location isn’t viable, to have it at another Hamilton location to be approved by council.

The OLG is getting interest from private-sector operators.

The OLG also proposed casinos in the GTA, Kenora, North Bay, Collingwood/Bracebridge and Cornwall. It proposed replacing slots in Chatham-Kent, Kitchener-Waterloo, Peterborough, Ottawa, Sudbury and Kingston and replacing them with downtown casinos.

Lysyk’s report found that the modernization plans were based on an “ambitious best-case scenario.”

The OLG could not be reached for comment on Monday.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Hamilton is in the West GTA bundle, but this is still interesting. Via OLG PR:

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended

TORONTO, ON / April 22, 2014 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was May 8, 2014. Applicants will now have until June 12, 2014 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

On April 1, 2014, OLG posted an addendum to the RFPQ on MERX™ in order to include a requirement for details related to applicants’ experience with horse racing activities.

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was June 12, 2014. Applicants will now have until August 14, 2014 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

[mattgrande]

So, does that mean they're not getting bidders in? I can't think of any other reason they would keep pushing it back like that...

[markbarbera]

I expect the submission deadline date has been moved as a result of the provincial election set on the same day as the original deadline. There are a myriad of rules that need to be applied to all public tendering processes the moment the writ is dropped. I am pretty sure a extension to deadlines for all open RFQ/RFP is among those rules.

[thistleclub]

First Metrolinx, now CivicAction. What are the odds?

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was June 12, 2014. Applicants will now have until August 14, 2014 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended

TORONTO, ON / August 7, 2014 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was August 14, 2014. Applicants will now have until November 6, 2014 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

[mattgrande]

What is this, the 4th extension?

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

What is this, the 4th extension?

Correct.

Dec 12, 2013: OLG announces GTA RFPQ submission deadline of Mar 13, 2014
Mar 3, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to May 8, 2014
Apr 23, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to June 12, 2014
May 24, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to Aug 14, 2014
Aug 7, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to Nov 6, 2014

[ScreamingViking]

Perhaps OLG feels that with just one more spin of the roulette wheel they'll surely hit the jackpot.

[CaptainKirk]

In an email dated June 6th, 2012, from PJ Mercanti to City Manager Chris Murray, Mr. Mercanti detailed the plans for the School site- converting the auditorium into a Hard Rock LIVE performance venue, the gym as a conference venue, and the classroom as “meeting rooms and Executive offices.” The renderings, by Toronto Architects Romanov Romanov, show the current school still in place, with a 44-storey Hotel, Condo and Casino development on the current football field.

http://jellyandgunner.ca/casino-prop...acdonald-site/

[thomax]

Doesn't Carmen's still have to build that since the promise of building the hotel and condo is one of the reason's they won the bid to take over the convention centre? They won the bid for the convention centre before the casino was added into hotel/condo plan, so they should still have to build the original plan of just the hotel and condo without the casino.

[mattgrande]

Originally Posted by MeIsThomas

Doesn't Carmen's still have to build that since the promise of building the hotel and condo is one of the reason's they won the bid to take over the convention centre? They won the bid for the convention centre before the casino was added into hotel/condo plan, so they should still have to build the original plan of just the hotel and condo without the casino.

I'll be sure to hold my breath on that one...

[davidcappi]

Where is this supposed to be located?

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

Where is this supposed to be located?

York & Bay, Sir John A MacDonald secondary school. There's this link underneath the last pic http://jellyandgunner.ca/casino-prop...acdonald-site/

On May 23rd, 2012, PJ Mercanti sent an email to City Manager Chris Murray, stating that Sir John A MacDonald High School was the first choice of Casino locations for the Rockhammer group. Mr. Mercanti also requested through the City Manager that the City buy up Sir John A MacDonald Secondary School and hold it in reserve as a Casino location.

[thistleclub]

Via OLG:

OLG’s New Electronic 50/50 Raffle Helping Ontario Charities Raise More Money

TORONTO – A new partnership between the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Foundation, the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG) is creating a new game day tradition for sports fans which will benefit charities across Ontario.

The OLG is introducing a new electronic 50/50 raffle system to replace some existing manual 50/50 raffles. The change will help Ontario charities raise more money and provide larger prizes for raffle players.

Highlights of the new enhanced 50/50 raffle program include:

• More excitement for players: Enhanced 50/50 features real-time displays of total prize money available in the jackpot.
• Improved access: Enhanced 50/50 allows sellers to reach more patrons and allows longer ticket sales to increase money for charities and provide larger jackpots.
• Greater integrity and accuracy: Enhanced 50/50 systems register and record all transactions and tickets.
• Improved security and accountability: With enhanced 50/50, each and every dollar is tracked in real-time.

In March 2014, OLG announced two pilot programs with the MLSE Foundation and the Ottawa Senators Foundation to enhance the manual 50/50 raffle draws with electronic hand-held mobile devices.

Ticket sales began on September 23, 2014 in Toronto and on September 24, 2014 in Ottawa – at the Leafs’ and Senators’ pre-season games. Charity volunteers are now using the electronic hand-held mobile devices to sell and record each 50/50 transaction at all Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators home games.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, only OLG can conduct and manage electronic games of chance in the province, which now includes electronic 50/50 raffle draws. OLG’s oversight of these pilot programs will leverage its expertise with improved efficiency, integrity and accuracy around these draws.

Similar enhancements to 50/50 raffles have occurred in other provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The technology has enabled charities in these provinces to significantly increase the amount of money raised.

Following the successful pilot programs, further expansion of the electronic 50/50 raffle draws to other charitable organizations in suitable venues across Ontario will be considered.

[thistleclub]

Three bidders vying for Ontario's prized $3.3B lotto
(Toronto Star, Robert Benzie, Oct 11 2014)

Three major players are officially in the high-stakes game to win Ontario’s prized $3.3-billion-a-year lottery business, the Star has learned.

Rogers Communications, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and GTECH-Scientific Games are the only qualified bidders in the now-closed auction for Ontario Lottery and Gaming’s lotto, sources say....

Sources say Teachers’ bid is being handled by its subsidiary, Camelot Group, one of the world’s biggest lottery operators.

Camelot runs the U.K. National Lottery, the Irish National Lottery and provides consultancy and management services to the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation of Canada, the New York State Lottery, the Massachusetts State Lottery, the Texas State Lottery, and the Kentucky State Lottery.


Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Dec 12, 2013: OLG announces GTA RFPQ submission deadline of Mar 13, 2014
Mar 3, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to May 8, 2014
Apr 23, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to June 12, 2014
May 24, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to Aug 14, 2014
Aug 7, 2014: OLG extends GTA RFPQ submission deadline to Nov 6, 2014

GTA Gaming Bundle RFPQ Submission Deadline Extended
(October 30 2014)

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has posted an addendum on the procurement website, MERX™, which extends the submission deadline for the GTA Gaming Bundle Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ).

OLG is extending the RFPQ to clarify the strategy and specifications of integrating horseracing into gaming in the province.

The previous deadline for the RFPQ was November 6, 2014. Applicants will now have until April 30, 2015 to provide OLG with RFPQ submissions.

[mattgrande]

Fully a year after the original "deadline." I don't know much about this stuff... why so many extensions? No one interested? Interested parties not good enough? Some other thing?

[thistleclub]

PlayOLG Customer Preview Begins
(OLG, Dec 5, 2014)

TORONTO, ON – A customer-focused preview of PlayOLG is underway for eligible members of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) Winner’s Circle Rewards (WCR) program.

The first 500 invitations have been issued to eligible WCR members who expressed interest in participating in this short-term preview. These players are now able to register, play games and fully experience PlayOLG prior to a province-wide launch in early 2015.

Invitations will be issued to 17,000 eligible WCR members in the coming days and weeks before PlayOLG becomes available to legal-aged Ontarians.

OLG’s Internet gaming site includes interactive casino-style games including slots and table games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Single-player Poker and Roulette, as well as the sale of LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX lottery tickets and ENCORE.

With the launch of PlayOLG, OLG joins British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and all of the Atlantic Provinces in offering provincially regulated, safe Internet gambling entertainment. Currently, approximately 500,000 Ontarians spend an estimated $400 - $500 million annually on out-of-province grey market sites, which are not regulated in Ontario.

[markbarbera]

This looks to be a shift in strategy for OLG's expansion plans. Faced with the (not unexpected) backlash against the idea of developments that would bring a bricks and mortar casino (along with associated hotel and entertainment venues) to 'respectable' communities, they are going for the much more cost effective approach of bringing gaming directly into every home via the Internet. I wonder if the CasiNO crowd will be just as vocal in opposition to what will be a much more universally accessible addictive gaming format. Never mind 'ruining' any specific commercial area - no one will ever have to leave the comforts of their home to feed their uncontrollable gambling problem, until they lose the home (or need to enter a life of crime to keep from losing it). Never mind, there won't be a physical building to shake one's fist at, so everything will be all right.