OLG Slots generates over $1 million for town

Innifil Scope January 19 2011
Innisfil has received over $1 million in funding, for hosting OLG Slots at Georgian Downs. 
The payment is part of the town’s share of slots revenue between October and December. To date, Innisfil has received more than $40.9 million in non-tax gaming revenue.
“OLG Slots at Georgian Downs has provided substantial economic and community benefits to the town since 2001,” says MPP Rick Johnson. “We all benefit from this strong partnership with OLG and the continuing investments in this municipality that are made possible through this sharing of gaming revenue.”  Payments are made on a quarterly basis, according to the government fiscal year. OLG Slots at Georgian Downs opened on November 27, 2001. Since opening, the facility has attracted more than 10.3 million visitors.
In total, OLG issued more than $17.7 million in third-quarter non-tax gaming revenue payments to 23 municipalities that host OLG casinos and OLG slots-at-racetrack facilities. To date, OLG has distributed $742.5 million to these host municipalities.
Each municipality hosting an OLG Slots-at-racetrack facility receives five per cent of the gaming facility’s gross revenue from the first 450 machines, and two per cent from any additional ones over that number. Funds are used at the discretion of the municipality.
Tracks and horse owners also benefit from the slots program, with 20 per cent of gross machine revenue split evenly between the two groups. Since the launch of the program in 1998, more than $3.33 billion has been shared.
In 2010/2011, the province will allocate $120 million in gaming revenue to support charities through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Every year, the Ontario government allocates two per cent of gross revenue from slot machines to its problem gambling program. This year, about $39 million will be donated, money that is used for research, treatment and prevention programs.