OLG to select north and southwest casino operators in 2017

Selected operators would take over existing casino operations and building new gaming facilities in the respective parts of the Canadian province.

OLG Thunder Bay as part of a modernization initiative conceived in 2012 to build a 21st model for the gaming and lottery industry in Ontario, four so-called ‘gaming bundles’ were created for service providers in the Ottawa area, East, North and Southwest regions. Operators for the Ottawa and East licenses were selected earlier this year, following an almost two-year process.

It is estimated to take 17 to 18 months from the issuance of the RFPs until operators are selected for the North and Southwest licenses. Tony Bitonti, a spokesperson for the OLG, said this week the OLG is likely to announce the winning bidders in early 2017. He added there would be no further communication about the RFPs during the selection process.

“To OLG, the integrity of the procurement proves is of utmost importance – Public procurements involve information of a commercially sensitive nature. In order to maintain integrity of the procurement process, details such as the names of the pre-qualified proponents will not be released while the process is ongoing,” remarked Bitonti.

The North gaming bundle has five gaming zones. The selected operator would take over existing gambling operations in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and at the Sundbury Downs racetrack, where it would be allowed to build and run a full-scale casino operation. It would also be expected to develop new gaming facilitates in North Bay and Kenora.

In the Southwest gaming bundle, the selected operator would take over OLG’s existing operations in six gaming zones, which are OLG Slots venues at Western Fair District, Clinton Raceway, Dresden Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Woodstock Raceway, as well as OLG Casino Point Edward.