OLG invites private-sector operators to setup casinos

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The ‘Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’ is showing keen interest in a massive GTA casino as part of 29 new gaming zones across the Ontario.

OLG CEO and president Rod Phillips said: “OLG is continuing conversations with municipalities across the province to gauge interest in participating in our modernization initiative and we will focus only on communities which are interested in having a facility.”

Moreover, OLG is urging the private-sector operators to come forward and show interest in 29 separate gaming zones across the province. Apparently, the gaming zones are geographic areas where regulated private-sector providers will be allowed to operate a single gaming facility, subject to approvals.

An OLG backgrounder says, “The zones are defined for building purposes only, and will not affect operators’ ability to market their offering — although some restrictions might apply to ensure the sustainability of the market.”

According to Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, its time Ontario picks up its game and optimize its gambling operations to face the fierce competition from casinos in Michigan and New York State.

Mr. Duncan said: “People are going out of the province and those who do want to gamble don’t have access in their communities. We have huge underserviced markets.”

On the other hand, a new regulation has been posted on a government website, which requires a community to seek public input into a casino.

“The McGuinty government promised to respect community wishes,” said New Democratic Party finance critic Michael Prue. “Instead, they’re sneaking changes through that will strip communities of their voice. We know that they are going to be pitting one municipality against another, one mayor against another.”