Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation oversees numerous brick-and-mortar casino locations across the province and this week witnessed the regular gaming-revenue allocation host communities receive at the end of every fiscal quarter of the year. Niagara Falls was among the first communities to bag its share at the end of the third quarter of this year. Its allocation amounted to $3.8 million.
Daily operation of land-based casinos is considered to be quite beneficial for the host municipalities, as they benefit from a slice of the gaming revenue accumulated over the given period. This comes as compensation for gambling operation and it is often used for beautification work and various local projects whether they are larger or smaller.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is undoubtedly the leading municipality in Ontario when it comes to casino revenue allocations, as at the end of every quarter, it bags the largest sum. This time it reached $3.8 million for the daily operation of Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. The regular payments all happen according to the prescribed formula calculating those. It is applied across all casino locations on a provincial level.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy expressed his satisfaction with the allocation that happens with the help of the Municipality Contribution Agreement. Right now, both casinos in Niagara Falls have suspended their daily operation and this will remain the case until at least January 26. The municipality has received a total of $172 million in non-tax gaming revenue since the last month of 1996. Sault Ste. Marie is another municipality benefitting this week.
The hotspot is also part of the agreement and it recently received the regular allocation. It reached $273,611 for the third quarter of this year. Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie is the hotspot attracting locals and residents of neighboring municipalities. Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, pointed out that the employment created in the community is to be reckoned with. Ever since 1999, the community has bagged $32.3 million.
More Locations
The City of Belleville also benefitted from the municipality agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, as it bagged some $557,505 for the daily operation of Shorelines Casino. This casino is one of the newer ones in Ontario and the community receives allocations since the beginning of 2017. Individuals feel drawn towards its offerings on a daily basis.
Over this period, the city coffers bagged some $11.5 million in non-tax gaming revenue. The City of Hamilton is yet another community that benefitted from allocations recently. This happens at the end of every quarter as a result of the daily operation of the popular Elements Casino Flamboro. Donna Skelly, Member of Provincial Parliament for Flamborough-Glanbrook, said that once safety restrictions are lifted, the hotspot will continue supporting the local community.
Ever since 2000, Hamilton has received more than $94 million in non-tax gaming revenue. January 26 is about to see more information on when the casino will reopen for in-person gambling.
Source: Langley, Alison. “OLG makes $3.8-million payment to Niagara Falls for hosting casinos“, WellandTribune, January 19, 2022
