'All told, OLG would be a much smaller organization' - report

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO LOTTERY CORPORATION

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OLG to modernize gaming

New strategic direction will create jobs, support schools and hospitals

(March 12, 2012) - The Ontario government has received a report from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) that proposes modernization of the system, an increase in its revenues by more than $1 billion a year, and the creation of 2,300 net new jobs in the gaming industry and nearly 4,000 additional jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors by 2017-18.

With internet-based gaming growing, a higher Canadian dollar and U.S. border communities building their own gaming sites, our gaming system has to change.

These reforms will modernize gaming in Ontario by allowing safe, responsible access to gaming opportunities.

The government has directed the OLG to implement a number of the proposals:

• Reconfigure the number of gaming sites and tailor the types of gaming activities made available at each site

• Launch multi-lane sales of lottery tickets at major retail outlets, including grocery stores

• Increase operational efficiencies by expanding the role of the private sector

• Stop annual payments to the horse racing industry by ending the Slots at Racetracks program on March 31, 2013, and allowing slot facilities to be located more strategically

• Implement a new fee model for municipalities hosting gaming sites; and

• Allow one new casino in the GTA, subject to an OLG business case and municipal approval.

The government will also enhance its responsible gambling programming.

These initiatives will allow OLG to meet the demands of a changing gaming marketplace.

"We are focused, more than ever, on balancing the budget while continuing to provide the best education and health care in the world. Modernizing OLG's operations and business model is an example of how we are ensuring our assets are delivering the greatest value to taxpayers, " said Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance,

Quick facts

OLG is the biggest non-tax revenue generating Crown agency in Ontario, and the largest gaming organization - and jurisdiction - in North America, with 27 gaming sites and 10,000 lottery points of sale.

In July 2010, the government directed OLG to undertake a review of its land-based gaming operations and lottery distribution network, to see how revenue from these could be optimized.

The government's plan to transform how OLG does business is a result of this review.

Eight million people in Ontario play lotteries at least once every year, and 2.7 million Ontarians went to an OLG gaming site at least once last year.

OLG generated $2 billion in net revenue for the province in 2010-11.

Since 1975, OLG lotteries, and OLG Slots and Casinos have generated more than $28 billion for Ontario.

Since 1998, OLG has provided nearly $3.7 billion to horse racing in Ontario through the Slots-at-Racetracks program.

This year's payment is estimated to be $345 million.

That's more than is spent on road safety or water safety.

It's also enough money to pay for more than two million house calls from doctors, nine million hours of home care or 27,800 hip or knee replacement surgeries.

Provincial proceeds from gaming activities help support key government services, including health care and education.

Ontario spends nearly $50 million annually on problem gambling treatment, prevention and research - more than any other jurisdiction in North America.

Learn more

Read about the changes OLG is making to lottery and gaming in Ontario here.

Learn more about OLG's customers.

See how revenue generated by OLG goes to help all Ontarians.

See how the OLG promotes responsible gambling.

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