Frequently Asked Questions

Modernizing lottery and gaming is about improving the customer experience, creating jobs in the industry, and increasing revenue for its shareholder – the Province of Ontario.

To achieve this, OLG is focusing on three key priorities:

1. Becoming more customer-focused.

OLG needs to be where customers want them to be, providing the games they want to play.

2. Selecting qualified service providers for specific day-to-day operation of lottery and gaming.

OLG will be looking to the private sector to help build and grow the lottery and gaming industry in Ontario.

3. Renewing OLG’s role in the conduct, management and oversight of lottery and gaming.

OLG will become a leaner, more focused corporation, responsible for market management, oversight and important priorities like responsible gambling.

OLG provides the largest source of non-tax revenue to the province, about $2 billion annually.

However, OLG’s current business model is not sustainable over the long term.

Advances in technology, changes to shopping patterns and demographics, and declining visits from the U.S. have all combined to threaten the industry and its contribution to the province.

Times have changed, and modernization is about bringing gaming in Ontario forward.

If OLG were to proceed on its current path, a minimum of $1 billion in public funds will be required to update its current services, and that would simply be an exercise in basic maintenance. It wouldn’t get OLG to where it needs to be.

For more information on why OLG needs to modernize, you can read the article A Time for Change on the ModernOLG website.

Once the modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is fully implemented:

• An additional $1.3 billion annually will go to the government – money that can be used to help pay for key services such as health care and education
• There will be billions of dollars in new capital investment in Ontario
• Thousands of jobs will have been created

OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight and remain the “operating mind” behind the delivery of lottery and gaming in Ontario.

OLG has learned from almost two decades of experience that the private sector can manage some of the day-to-day operations of a gaming facility and OLG can focus on things like managing the market, making sure key areas, like Responsible Gambling, are addressed directly. OLG will also continue to help Ontarians understand how revenue generated by gaming in Ontario benefits them.

Eight million Ontarians play OLG lotteries every year, so this is a very popular form of entertainment. OLG’s plan will help make it easier and more convenient for people to buy lottery tickets in Ontario.

For more information on modernizing lottery in Ontario, you can read the article Making Lottery More Efficient and Accessible on the ModernOLG website.

Last year alone, OLG Gaming Centres gave back $110 million to their communities. This helped fund things like college and university campuses, hospitals, community centres and charities.

Over the years, host municipalities have used revenue from OLG facilities to build infrastructure, invest in culture and create local jobs. For example:

• In Ajax, the town used approximately $7.4 million in contributions from OLG Slots at Ajax Downs to help build a new state-of-the-art, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Operations Centre
• In Innisfil, funds from OLG Slots at Georgian Downs were used by the Town to help build a $40 million recreation complex, in addition to other capital projects
• The Town of Hanover used revenue it has received to invest in local culture – renovating its century-old theatre with new drapes, seats, air conditioning and more

Gaming facilities could also be a driver for municipal growth and development. The capital and economic opportunities created by a gaming centre could both facilitate and accelerate key community building initiatives.

Watch Community Stories to learn more about how this money has touched the lives of people across Ontario on the ModernOLG website.

OLG’s projections continue to evolve as it learns more about what increased private sector involvement in a new gaming entertainment centre could mean.

For example, when OLG first announced it would modernize lottery and gaming in Ontario in March 2012, OLG projected it would lead to 2,300 new industry jobs, 4,000 service sector jobs, and $3 billion of capital investments across the province.

After initiating a Request for Information (RFI) process last spring, hearing from some of the interested private sector resort casino operators, and conducting further analysis, OLG is confident now that a facility in the GTA outside of downtown Toronto, for example, would lead to 9,700 direct full-time and part-time jobs and  3,000 construction jobs over a three-year period. It would also drive approximately $1.5 billion in capital investment. And that’s for the GTA facility alone.

OLG envisions gaming facilities that benefit both host municipalities and their local businesses. Gaming facilities make host municipalities more attractive commercially by enhancing them as destinations for meetings and conferences, as well as attracting additional tourism to the area.

Two separate studies that looked at the social and economic impacts of gambling demonstrated that the introduction of gambling often benefits businesses in the local area in terms of increased revenue, business starts, and overall employment, especially when a significant portion of its patron base is from outside the area.^{1, 2}

Sources:
¹Socio-Economic Impacts Associated With the Introduction of Casino Gambling: A Literature Review and Synthesis. By Rhys & Williams (2004). Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
www.uleth.ca/dspace/handle/10133/407

²The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling. Williams, Rhym and Stevens (2011). Final Report Prepared for the Canadian Consortium of Gambling Research.
www.gamblingresearch.org/download.php?docid=11322

A 2011 report³, which looked at the social and economic impact of gambling, found:

• A total of seven studies have determined that new casinos have no impact on property, while six other studies have found new casino development to be associated with increases in property values

An earlier report in 2004⁴ found that:

• The presence of casinos drives up the price of both real estate and rental rates for personal and business accommodations in adjacent casino neighbourhoods

OLG envisions gaming facilities that are designed to be part of a host community, complementing its surroundings both visually and commercially.

Sources:
³The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling. Williams, Rhym and Stevens (2011). Final Report Prepared for the Canadian Consortium of Gambling Research.
www.gamblingresearch.org/download.php?docid=11322

⁴Socio-Economic Impacts Associated With the Introduction of Casino Gambling: A Literature Review and Synthesis. By Rhys & Williams (2004). Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
www.uleth.ca/dspace/handle/10133/407

OLG envisions a facility that can drive traffic to the GTA in a way very few other attractions within the GTA are able to now. Rather than being the sole destination, a new facility would be one of the places visitors to the GTA could visit during their stay.

The facility would broaden capacity for conventions, business travel and tourism, which would drive business for all hotels in the GTA.

This has been the experience in Niagara Falls, where the Fallsview Casino Resort has 374 rooms and more than a dozen restaurants.⁵

Despite this, the Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview hotel, which is right across the street from the casino, underwent an expansion in 2009 that added more than 500 additional rooms and three new dining options.⁶

Sources:
⁵ http://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com
⁶ http://www.niagarafallshilton.com/

A municipal council is required to seek public input into the establishment of a proposed gaming site.

The municipal council must give OLG, in writing, a description of the steps it took to do so and a summary of the public input it received. In addition, the municipal council must pass a resolution supporting the establishment of the gaming site in the municipality and give a copy of the resolution to OLG. The purpose of this process is to ensure that every municipality is indeed a willing host to a gaming facility.

This is a legal requirement specified in the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999 – Regulation 81/12.

OLG has taken a consistent approach for every potential and current host municipality.

The approach has three basic steps:

1. Confirm municipal interest in each Gaming Zone;
2. Choose the private sector operator; and
3. Work with the municipality and the private sector operator to determine the location.

OLG has been clear from the outset that it will only locate a gaming facility in communities that want one.

So, the first step is for a municipality to pass a resolution formally indicating that it is interested in the option of allowing the entire area of a Gaming Zone within its boundaries to be considered for a potential gaming activity.

As part of this resolution, the municipality may indicate conditions of its approval, such as where the gaming site may – or may not – be located. The conditions must be reasonable and commercially viable, consistent with OLG’s legal responsibilities under the Criminal Code of Canada, and align with the government’s policy direction.

The second step is for OLG to choose the private sector operator through a competitive and transparent process, which includes a Request for Pre-Qualification and a Request for Proposal.

The successful proponent would then need to work with the city on specifics about a gaming facility such as picking a preferred location – just as would happen with any major development.

Municipalities have a say in many of the aspects of any major development, including location, design, building height, density and more.

Before a new facility gets built, there needs to be consensus from three parties—the City, the private sector operator and OLG.

Once plans are finalized that are amenable to all three parties, the Minister of Finance must give his/her final approval.

OLG understands and appreciates that public input is a vital and necessary step for municipalities to determine if they are willing hosts for a new gaming facility.

The Ontario government passed a regulation to outline the process for municipalities to demonstrate their support for a gaming facility. The regulation does not require a municipality to hold a referendum to show that it is a willing host.

OLG is committed to meeting the Ontario government’s deadline for fully implementing the modernization of lottery and gaming by 2017-18.

It is a municipal decision how they choose to obtain public input into gaming.

OLG remains optimistic that interested City Councils will consider their options and make decisions in a timely manner.

A municipality can seek public input in any manner it chooses, including a referendum or other forms of public consultation. However, a referendum is not required.

OLG will not impose a gaming facility on a municipality that doesn’t support one.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999, requires that a municipal council seek public input into the establishment of a proposed gaming site.

The municipal council must give OLG, in writing, a description of the steps it took to do so and a summary of the public input it received. In addition, the municipal council must pass a resolution supporting the establishment of the gaming site in the municipality and give a copy of the resolution to OLG. The purpose of this process is to ensure that every municipality is indeed a willing host to a gaming facility.

As part of its resolution, a municipality may indicate conditions of its approval, such as where the gaming site may – or may not – be located. The conditions must be reasonable and commercially viable, consistent with OLG’s legal responsibilities under the Criminal Code of Canada, and align with the government’s policy direction.

The next step is for OLG to choose the private sector operator through a competitive and transparent process, which includes a Request for Pre-Qualification and a Request for Proposal.

The successful proponent would then need to work with the city on specifics about a gaming facility such as picking a preferred location – just as would happen with any major development.

Municipalities have a say in many of the aspects of any major development, including location, design, building height, density and more.

Before a new facility gets built, there needs to be consensus from three parties—the City, the private sector operator and OLG.

Once plans are finalized that are amenable to all three parties, the Minister of Finance must give his/her final approval.

OLG is currently in the process of running a multi-stage, competitive and transparent procurement process for all of its Gaming Zones.

In May 2012, OLG initiated a Request for Information (RFI) process to better understand the level of interest and ability that exists in the market, as it relates to gaming operations. OLG was very pleased with the volume and quality of responses received. On November 30, 2012, OLG initiated the first wave of its Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) process for gaming operations. These RFPQs closed on March 7 and 14, 2013.

OLG will be releasing the RFPQs for additional Gaming Zones, some in Gaming Bundles, over the coming months.

The RFPQ will be followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

These formal, fair and competitive procurement processes allow OLG to pre-qualify a sub section of the interested regulated private sector service providers against specific criteria, while ensuring the process is fair and transparent to all relevant stakeholders.

OLG envisions new gaming facilities that complement their surroundings both visually and commercially.

And while a service provider will propose the construction of the new gaming site, it must have a comprehensive business plan approved by OLG, the Minister of Finance and have requisite municipal support.

As both OLG and private sector service providers begin refining their analysis, they will get a better idea about what the parking requirements may be.

It’s critical that a new gaming entertainment centre integrates well with a host community and also with local transit.

Gaming facilities could also be a driver for municipal growth and development. The capital and economic opportunities created by a gaming centre could both facilitate and accelerate key community building initiatives.

OLG is currently conducting a multi-staged fair and competitive procurement process to select regulated private sector service providers for its gaming sites.

OLG issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Land-based Gaming, which was open from May 17, 2012 to July 4, 2012. The RFI solicited input from industry experts about a number of things, including the viability of different locations for potential gaming facilities.

The RFI process was followed by the launch of OLG’s Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) process on November 30, 2012, with three separate RFPQs, one each for the Ottawa Area, Ontario East Gaming Bundle and the Ontario North Gaming Bundle. These RFPQs closed in March 2013.

OLG will be releasing the RFPQs for additional Gaming Zones, some in Gaming Bundles, over the coming months.

The RFPQ process will enable OLG to pre-qualify potential service providers based on their ability to operate a gaming facility to OLG’s standards. OLG will then issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the pre-qualified vendors to make formal bids.

Once the RFP process is complete, OLG will select the vendors to become regulated service providers of gaming facilities.

OLG is following the Government of Ontario’s procurement guidelines to ensure that the process is fair, competitive and transparent. To that end, OLG has engaged an impartial Fairness Monitor and an Independent Fairness Advisor throughout the process to provide oversight on the integrity and fairness of the procurement process.

OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight and remain the “operating mind” behind the delivery of gaming.

After operations are in place, OLG will continue its conduct and management and oversight role of the gaming business and will continue to hold responsibility for all critical decisions related to the operation of gaming, including:

• Strategic Planning
• Financial Management
• Customer Management
• Service Provider Management
• Gaming Service/Product Offering
• Information Technology
• Risk Management
• Market Management

OLG will also continue to prevent and mitigate the effects of problem gambling through its world renowned Responsible Gambling program.

OLG expects to pay private sector service providers based on a combination of a base fee and a percentage of gaming revenue generated at a site.

The percentage of revenue provided to the service provider will vary based on the revenue generation potential and cost structure of the site, as well as asset ownership.

As part of its conduct and management obligations, OLG will require service providers to follow its Responsible Gambling standards.

In addition to mandated compliance with new AGCO regulations, Operator Service Agreements will include detailed Responsible Gambling terms.

OLG will continue its role in the conduct, management and oversight, and remain the “operating mind” behind the delivery of gaming.

After operations are in place, OLG will continue its conduct, management and oversight role of the gaming business and will continue to hold responsibility for all critical decisions related to the operation of gaming, including:

• Strategic Planning
• Financial Management
• Customer Management
• Service Provider Management
• Gaming Service/Product Offering
• Information Technology
• Risk Management
• Market Management

OLG will also continue to prevent and mitigate the effects of problem gambling through its world renowned Responsible Gambling program.

OLG will continue its conduct, management oversight role of the gaming business and will continue to hold responsibility for all critical decisions related to the operation of gaming.

OLG expects to pay a service provider based on a combination of a base fee and a percentage of gaming revenue generated at the site. The percentage of revenue provided will vary based on the revenue generation potential and cost structure of the site, as well as asset ownership.

Operating agreements will be explicit in the roles and responsibilities of the service providers and OLG.

To determine the 29 gaming zones across the province, OLG used a Gravity Model – a business tool commonly used for modeling supply and demand within a given geographic area. The Gravity Model looked at a number of factors to determine where there is maximum customer demand for a gaming facility. These factors included:

• Proximity of a gaming site to other gaming facilities
• Proximity of a gaming site to current and potential customers
• Distance a customer is willing to travel to reach a gaming site

Using these factors, the Gravity Model identified specific geographic areas where gaming sites could be successfully established without competing with each other for customers. OLG then drew borders around these areas to form gaming zones.

It is important to note that the proposed gaming zones are not final. The geographic boundaries may be adjusted based on ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders and municipalities, as well as information received through the Request for Information (RFI) process.

Not at all. What Toronto City Council’s vote does tell us is that our process works.

OLG’s modernization is a province-wide initiative that will increase our contribution to the province, providing more money for hospitals, education and community infrastructure across Ontario.

And, OLG’s modernization continues to progress.

To that point, 39 municipalities in 28 of the 29 Gaming Zones have formally indicated their interest in hosting a gaming site.

OLG’s job is to provide information to city residents, staff and councillors, so that they can make an informed decision that is in the best interest of their community.

OLG has been clear all along that it will not impose a gaming facility on any unwilling municipality.

A facility in the GTA would create 9,700 direct full-time and part-time jobs, and 3,000 construction jobs over a three-year period.

It would also drive approximately $1.5 billion in capital investments.

If a new gaming entertainment centre were to be located in the GTA, its host city could benefit directly from millions in hosting fees, millions in property tax revenue, as well as development fees.

There are a number of municipalities in the GTA with a desire to grow as commercial and industrial centres, and develop new downtowns. A new gaming entertainment centre could be a catalyst for growth, attracting business and leisure travelers to its host city.

A new facility would be designed with much more than gaming in mind—convention and meeting space, retail, hospitality, hotel, restaurants and more.

Direct jobs employ people directly at the gaming entertainment centre. Examples of these jobs include table dealers, slot attendants, hotel managers, retail staff and servers.

Indirect jobs support the operation of the gaming facility, such as working in slot machine manufacturing, maintenance contracting, food service, and hotel linen provision.

Induced jobs are created by the economic growth and wages from direct and indirect jobs at the gaming facility. For example, people employed as a result of jobs at the gaming facility, may choose to buy new furniture. A local furniture store might then have to hire more workers in order to keep up with the increased demand. These new retail jobs are induced jobs.

To reach its job figures, OLG first estimated how much an operator would spend on jobs at a GTA casino. To do this, OLG used information received from operators as part of the Request for Information process and data gathered from OLG’s own experience operating gaming sites in Ontario. This number is called the labour spend.

Next, OLG used multipliers developed by Statistics Canada* to predict how many direct full-time and part-time gaming industry jobs would be generated for every $1 million of labour spend. By multiplying this number by the labour spend, OLG could then estimate how many total direct jobs a GTA casino would produce.

Here is an example of how this calculation works:

If the labour spend to operate a casino in the GTA is $10 million and we get 25 jobs for every $1 million of labour spend, the total jobs at the casino would be:

25 jobs (per $1 million) X $10 million labour spend = 250 jobs
*These multipliers are called Provincial Input-Output Multipliers.

OLG anticipates that if the facility were to be built in a GTA municipality outside of Toronto, such as Markham or Vaughan for example, it would mean capital investments of up to $1.5 billion – infrastructure built and paid for by private sector partners and not municipal taxpayers.

Just like other municipalities in Ontario, a number of cities in the GTA are considering the opportunity to host a new gaming facility. Some 39 communities have already said yes to this opportunity for jobs, economic development and revenue. In the case of the GTA especially, there is an opportunity to build an integrated and multi-functional facility with private sector funds.

The option for any city continues to be excellent: jobs, economic development, hosting fees and property tax.

The provincial government and OLG have been very clear that VLTs and slot machines in corner stores, hotels and bars are not part of its Modernization mandate.

OLG is looking to have a regulated private sector service provider build one new gaming facility in the GTA.

Gaming in Ontario is well regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario – an independent regulator – and OLG maintains rigorous protocols at all gaming facilities across the province.

OLG is confident that a new gaming and entertainment centre built in the GTA (e.g. Markham, Vaughan or Mississauga) would generate 9,700 direct full-time and part-time jobs, 4,000 indirect full-time and part-time jobs, and 3,000 construction jobs over a three-year period.

Ultimately, it will be up to a private sector service provider how best to staff its facility.

However, after initiating its Request for Information (RFI) process in May 2012, hearing from some of the proponents and conducting further analysis, OLG is confident that a facility in the GTA would lead to 9,700 direct full-time and part-time jobs and 3,000 construction jobs over a three-year period.

The GTA is one of the most underserviced gaming markets in all of North America, so one can assume that a new facility would attract a large number of people from around the GTA.

However, OLG anticipates that new facility in the GTA could draw customers from around the world as well. With conference and meeting space, hotel, hospitality and restaurants, it would be a place for business and leisure travelers to Toronto and elsewhere in the GTA to visit. Furthermore, consider that last year:

• Toronto welcomed more than 9.8 million overnight visitors for the first time in its history⁴
• There was an increase in overnight visitors from the U.S. for the first time since 2006⁵
• The number of overseas travellers increased by more than six per cent, making it the most rapidly expanding market segment, and now account for 14 per cent of all visitors to Toronto², and
• The biggest growth came from countries with some of the world’s fastest growing economies, including China (34.5 per cent increase), India (13.2 per cent) and Brazil (9.2 per cent)⁵

Sources:

⁴ Tourism Toronto research:
http://www.seetorontonow.com/getattachment/a47e63ea-7b3a-4017-9e77-f7b26c67bc6c/Executive-summary.pdf.aspx

⁵ Tourism Toronto research:
http://www.seetorontonow.com/pdf/tourism-release-jan-12.pdf

What OLG is envisioning in the GTA is not just a casino, but rather a gaming entertainment centre.It would be about gaming, but equally important would be hospitality, entertainment and retail.

OLG anticipates an integrated resort built to stand out with bold design and architecture, not a facility that stands alone, but rather one that connects naturally to the city.

OLG would like a facility built that complements its surrounding both visually and commercially.

And, while a service provider will propose the construction of the new gaming site, it must have a comprehensive business plan approved by OLG, the Minister of Finance and have requisite municipal support.

OLG believes that there are a number of municipalities in the GTA that would be viable hosts for a new resort-style gaming facility.

OLG’s vision includes a new integrated resort style gaming facility in the GTA built by the private sector.

OLG is prepared to move forward in any one of a number of communities in the GTA that express an interest in this economic development opportunity. That being said, OLG will not impose a gaming facility on any unwilling municipality in the GTA.

The choice for all host communities continues to be excellent: jobs, economic development, hosting fees and property tax.

Modernization is about more than one community or one facility.

All Ontarians will benefit once the modernization of lottery and gaming is complete.

OLG currently provides nearly $2 billion annually to the Ontario government and modernization will enable us to grow that contribution to more than $3 billion. This money is used to help fund provincial priorities such as hospitals and municipal infrastructure.

In addition to increasing its financial contribution to the Province, a modern OLG will help create thousands of jobs and drive more than $3 billion in capital investment across Ontario.

Yes. There are a number of municipalities in the GTA that are viable hosts for a new resort-style gaming facility.

There is no clear evidence that gaming expansion results in an increase in crime rates.

A media report in 2012 trying to connect crime to the OLG Slots facility at Woodbine Racetrack actually found that fears related to loan sharking, prostitution, traffic flow and parking never materialized.

Two recent studies in Alberta found no significant statistical relationship between gambling and crime.^{1, 2}

Over the past 18 years of casino gambling in Ontario, mayors in all 23 host municipalities have indicated to OLG that there is no correlation between gaming in their communities and crime rates.

In fact, some of these mayors have anecdotally indicated that the increased security presence resulting from casinos has helped lower levels of criminal activity.

In Windsor, data from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada, shows that incidents of crime went down approximately 30 per cent between 1998 and 2010. Casino Windsor (now Caesars Windsor) opened in 1994.

Sources:

¹ The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling. Williams, Rhym and Stevens (2011). Final Report Prepared for the Canadian Consortium of Gambling Research.
www.gamblingresearch.org/download.php?docid=11322

² Socio-Economic Impacts Associated With the Introduction of Casino Gambling: A Literature Review and Synthesis. By Rhys & Williams (2004). Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
www.uleth.ca/dspace/handle/10133/407

Independent studies don’t support this assertion. A 2011 report, The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling, which was presented to the Canadian Consortium of Gambling Research, determined that there is currently no reliable way of attaching a monetary value to the social costs of gambling.³

Furthermore, Earl Grinols’ 2003 study, which claimed that $6 of social costs are created for every $1 generated by a casino, failed to:

• Consider the limitations of conclusions based on problem gamblers’ self-reported expenditures
• Account for casinos’ benefits to their local economies

The study also painted an inaccurate portrayal of crime statistics, and didn’t take into account other mental health and addictions issues that could contribute to negative consequences suffered by problem gamblers.

Sources:

³ The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling. Williams, Rhym and Stevens (2011). Final Report Prepared for the Canadian Consortium of Gambling Research. www.gamblingresearch.org/download.php?docid=11322

Gambling is an activity that always has the potential to result in problem behaviour for a small portion of the population.

Approximately 3.4 per cent of adults in Ontario have a severe or moderate gambling problem. Problem gambling rates are similar across other jurisdictions.

OLG does not want or need problem gamblers at its facilities.

Ontario spends more on Responsible Gambling programming than any other jurisdiction in North America, with $54 million just last year alone. OLG has Responsible Gaming Resource Centres at all of its gaming sites, including staff from the Responsible Gambling Council at eight of these locations.

OLG casinos attract a broad customer base and OLG does not target lower-income groups.

In fact, according to a Harris Decima market survey, nearly 50 per cent of OLG slot and casino players had household incomes of more than $75,000 in 2011.

By comparison, in the general population of Ontario, 39 per cent of the population makes over $75,000 a year.

Ontario dedicates more funding to Responsible Gambling than any other jurisdiction in North America – $54 million last year alone. This is expected to increase once the modernization of lottery and gaming is completed.

Responsible Gambling is, and will continue to be, a key focus of OLG’s business. In fact, as lottery and gaming has evolved, it has become a central pillar.

Responsible Gambling is engrained in OLG’s corporate culture for all employees. In fact, OLG works with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to provide employee training that focuses on recognizing potential problem gambling behaviours and learning how to respond to them.

Last year, eight million Ontarians played the lottery at least once and 2.7 million paid a visit to one of OLG’s gaming facilities.

OLG provides a form of entertainment and wants customers to use only an affordable portion of their disposable income to play its games.

Gambling is an activity that always has the potential to result in problem behaviour for a small portion of the population. Approximately 3.4 per cent of adult Ontarians have a severe or moderate gambling problem.

OLG does not want or need problem gamblers at its facilities.

That’s why OLG seeks to prevent problem gambling from occurring in the first place, and to provide a bridge to assistance for those who need it.

Ontario takes Responsible Gambling programming seriously. Here’s the breakdown of the $54 million spent last year:

• $41 million was allocated to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to fund problem gambling prevention, treatment and research
• OLG spent $13 million on its own internal Responsible Gambling efforts, such as facial recognition technology, a self-exclusion program, staff training and Responsible Gaming Resource Centres, which are in all OLG gaming facilities

This funding is expected to increase once OLG’s modernization of lottery and gaming in Ontario is fully implemented.

OLG is proud to have earned the highest level of certification from the World Lottery Association for its robust and innovative Responsible Gambling program – the best funded program in North America. In fact, Ontario’s Responsible Gambling expenditures are equal to 80 per cent of all other provinces combined.

All of OLG’s gaming sites have Responsible Gambling features, including:

• Responsible Gaming Resource Centres at all sites, with staff from the Responsible Gambling Council at eight locations
• Mandatory training for all front line and management staff
• Facial recognition technology to support self-exclusion at all gaming sites

OLG is also currently exploring new design features to support its Responsible Gambling priorities, such as:

• Encouraging all players to set time and money limits on slot machines
• Using natural lighting
• Placing ATMs in a way that is sensitive to Responsible Gambling concerns
• Providing additional clocks at every OLG facility

OLG also offers a range of information and education tools to promote Responsible Gambling and to help players understand how games work.

OLG’s casinos and slot facilities are part of a community’s tourism industry and are open to provide entertainment to local residents and visitors. These operating hours are standard within the gaming industry and are based upon customer demand for this form of entertainment.

As part of OLG’s Responsible Gambling initiatives, clocks are present on the gaming floor at every facility. OLG encourages all players to set a time and dollar limit on their play to ensure they are playing for entertainment purposes.

OLG needs a sustainable player base, which means working to broaden its appeal to a large number of people – not a small number of problem players.

OLG provides a form of entertainment and wants customers to use only an affordable portion of their disposable income to play its games.

That’s why OLG seeks to prevent problem gambling from occurring in the first place, and to provide a bridge to assistance for those who need it. Through initiatives like knowyourlimit.ca, OLG educates players about the myths and facts of the games they play and how to manage their own play habits.

The data is very limited for these types of studies.

OLG seeks to build a sustainable player base that spends only an affordable portion of its disposable income on gaming as a form of entertainment.

OLG is currently building a data analytics program. While it will not diagnose gambling problems, it will help players by telling them when their patterns of play have changed, and give them information and options to consider.