OLG distributes funds for Sault physician recruitment

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO LOTTERY AND GAMING CORP.

************************* OLG distributes $340,576 to Sault Ste. Marie to assist Sault Area Hospital and physician recruitment

SAULT STE. MARIE — Sault Ste. Marie received $340,576 yesterday for hosting OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie.

The payment was for the host municipality’s first-quarter share of slots revenue (April to June 2011).

To date, Sault Ste. Marie has received more than $19.1 million in non-tax gaming revenue.

Payments are made on a quarterly basis according to the government fiscal year, which runs April to March.

OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie opened on May 24, 1999.

Since opening, the facility has attracted more than 10.4 million visitors.

“OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie has been an important partner and economic force within our community since 1999,” says MPP David Orazietti. “The presence of this facility not only creates employment opportunities, but also provides ongoing revenue that enables us to invest in municipal services and important local projects."

The City designates its share of slots revenue to support the development of the new hospital and physician recruitment program.

The City allocates $1 million per year from its share of slot revenues towards funding the new hospital – a thirteen year commitment that will benefit the community of Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area.

In total, OLG issued more than $18.4 million in first-quarter non-tax gaming revenue payments to 23 host municipalities that host OLG Casinos and OLG Slots-at-racetrack facilities.

To date, OLG has distributed $778.1 million to these host municipalities.

Each municipality hosting an OLG Casino facility receives five per cent of the gaming facility’s gross slot machine from the first 450 slot machines and two per cent from any additional machines over that number.

Funds are used at the discretion of the municipality.

In 2011/2012, the province will allocate $120 million in gaming revenue to support charities through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

Every year, the Government of Ontario allocates two per cent of gross revenue from slot machines at OLG Casinos and OLG Slots-at-racetrack facilities to the province’s problem gambling program for research, treatment and prevention programs.

The amount for fiscal 2011/2012 is estimated at $41 million.

OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie is owned, operated and managed by OLG.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities.

Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario.

Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Know your limit, play within it!

*************************//