New local e-gaming and software jobs announced (updated)

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, along with Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, announced a partnership on Friday afternoon that they expect will create 25 new jobs in the community.

The OLG and Canadian Bank Note Company,

Limited (CBN) have reached an agreement which will see CBN setup an office in the Sault to provide technology support and software development for OLG’s charitable bingo and gaming business.

"These jobs could have gone anywhere in the province," said Orazietti (shown above speaking at a press conference on Friday). "Obviously, it's a good thing they are coming to Sault Ste. Marie."

CBN's office will be at the Station Tower on Bay Street and Craig Bascombe, CBN president of Lottery Systems and chief financial officer, said jobs will be related to technical support, software development and system administration.

"We're pleased to reach an agreement with the OLG," said Bascombe. "We look forward to providing a range of technological services to charitable gaming in Ontario and building a strong business here in Sault Ste. Marie."

Some job postings are already available online at www.cbnco.com/hr/hr-careers.php and CBN expects to hold a job fair next month in the Sault.

Aside from job creation, CBN's arrival makes e-bingo a possibility in the Sault.

Bascombe said an e-bingo hall operates similarly to a traditional one, but their services would be electronic.

For example, rather than dabbing paper with a marker players would use an electronic screen with bingo cards on it.

Tom Marinelli, chief transformation officer and chief information officer for OLG, hopes private business will come forward with a proposal for a bingo hall.

CBN would provide e-bingo services for a new hall.

"The appeal to a private operator would be the fact OLG would go in and install new technology to make it a successful bingo hall," Marinelli said.

Marinelli added the OLG has been running six e-bingo pilot halls since 2005 - including one in Sudbury, which is now fully operational.

"Those six halls have contributed $40 million to the charities in those communities," he said.

CBN is an Ottawa-based printed products company with over 1,500 employees and supplies products through four divisions: lottery systems (online games/systems), identification systems (passports/readers), payment systems (currency, postage) and shareholder services (annual reports, stock and bond certificates).

They were established in 1897 and designed the new Canadian $20 and $50 bills.

Bascombe said they have full operational control of lotteries in seven different countries in Latin America.

The full text of a release from Orazietti's office follows.

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Orazietti announces new e-gaming and software technology jobs in Sault Ste. Marie

Province committed to supporting diversification of local economy with expanded job opportunities

SAULT STE. MARIE - David Orazietti, MPP was joined today by officials from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited (CBN) to announce that CBN will set up an office in Sault Ste. Marie to provide technology services for OLG’s charitable bingo and gaming business, which will create up to 25 new, high quality local jobs.

"Today's announcement to create up to 25 new jobs further reinforces our government's commitment to ensuring Sault Ste. Marie continues to play an important role within the modernizing gaming industry," said Orazietti. "Strengthening and diversifying our local economy remains a top priority and builds on the substantial progress we have made since 2003."

“This step is critical to OLG’s Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative,” said Tom Marinelli, chief transformation officer and chief information officer for OLG. “Today’s initiative represents a new model of collaboration with commercial operators, charity associations and municipalities intended to sustain, modernize and grow revenue for charitable organizations across the province by enhancing the entertainment experience for new and existing customers. So while OLG will maintain complete oversight and accountability, the private sector will play a greater role in the delivery of charitable bingo and gaming in Ontario.”

The creation of up to 25 new, high quality local jobs will focus on ensuring the current gaming experience is enhanced with a mix of product innovations.

Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited (CBN) will be providing a full range of technology services for the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative, which includes software development, testing and integration; third party vendor services and support; and  system operation, management, maintenance and support.

“We are very pleased that OLG has selected CBN to deliver the solutions that will revitalize charitable bingo and gaming in the province,” said Craig Bascombe, CBN president of Lottery Systems and chief financial officer. “We look forward to tapping into the great talent that Sault Ste. Marie has to offer, while helping to grow the local economy with new, high-quality jobs.”

CBN is a Canadian-owned and operated company headquartered in Ottawa with over 1,500 employees and more than 20 years of experience providing expert solutions to lottery markets worldwide, including a long-standing business relationship with OLG.

CBN provides services to over 60 countries around the world and recently designed the new Bank of Canada polymer banknotes and is producing the new Canadian ePassport.

"Our government’s decision to keep the OLG Head Office in the Sault is ensuring we remain at the centre of the lottery and gaming industry and that we continue to play an important role in its modernization," added Orazietti.

More information about the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Initiative, as well as copies of “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario,” are available at www.olg.ca.

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