Canada: Toronto casino idea folds

Miller insisted that the provincial government - and not the city - would walk away winners from a Toronto casino. "It’s not a solution for the city; it’s a solution for the province," he said. The Ontario government determines whether a city will host a casino.

He said that under the funding arrangement in place at Woodbine Racetrack, which incorporates a slot machine operation, the province takes more than us$ 400 million of the revenue generated each year. The city’s share is about us$ 14 million.

Miller affirmed that Toronto needs to tackle its money problems by imposing new taxes - the controversial land transfer tax and vehicle registration levy. He said Queen’s Park must also pick up costs it has downloaded to the city.

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, meanwhile, countered that a casino has the potential to boost the city’s sagging fortunes by as much as us$ 300 million annually. "We’ve already got a gambling industry in this city - they’re called bingo halls," Mammoliti argued. "Anyone that hasn’t gone in, you should go in - at least on Fridays because there are us$ 10,000 and us$ 15,000 jackpots."

The councillor for York West added the introduction of a casino would help eliminate illegal gambling. Mammoliti said there are locations in his ward where people illegally gamble with cards and slot machines. Illegal gambling operations attract prostitution and message parlours, he added.