Background Information: OLG Expansion and the City of Toronto
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is responsible for establishing casinos on behalf of the Province of Ontario. The OLG is looking to expand gaming across the province and has identified 29 zones across Ontario in which they intend to offer a gaming venue. Currently, gaming operations exist in 24 of the 29 zones with the remaining 5 zones being considered for a new casino.
Provincial law requires that potential host communities seek public input prior to passing a resolution on whether or not to accept a new gaming facility in their municipality. Two of the zones (C1 and C2) include lands within the City of Toronto as well as lands within the adjacent Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities. Four areas of Toronto within the OLG C1 and C2 zones are being studied by City staff as potential locations for a new casino and include the downtown, Port Lands, Exhibition Place and Woodbine.
In order to make an informed decision on whether or not to support a new casino in Toronto, City Council is assessing possible casino locations, revenues, construction and operations, as well financial, social, economic, infrastructure, health, planning and safety considerations.
The information on the following pages describes the potential benefits the City may gain from a casino as well as the limitations or issues which may be associated with such a facility. Learn more about: