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Casino operator will be announced in early 2017

Long delayed process is on track, OLG says
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Early in the New Year, Greater Sudbury should know what company wants to operate a casino in the city, almost five years after it was announced with much fanfare. File photo

Early in the New Year, Greater Sudbury should know what company wants to operate a casino in the city, almost five years after it was announced with much fanfare.

First announced in spring 2012, the original goal was to pick a provider sometime in 2013. But after several revisions to timelines and approach – including breaking down the province into gaming zones – it appears a decision is near. A spokesperson for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. says they are on track for early 2017.

"Wait until early in the New Year, and you'll see another news release coming out and we'll definitely be announcing the service provider for the northern bundle,” Tony Bitonti said in a recent interview. “Absolutely."

After cancelling the funding arrangement between race tracks in Ontario and the OLG, Premier Kathleen Wynne backtracked and provided $500 million in transitional funding, although that didn't save racing at Sudbury Downs. The modernization plan was expected to add billions to the province's revenues, but the amount has since been downgraded as the plan has evolved.

The northern gaming bundle includes Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Kenora. The OLG is following the same procedure it used for the eastern gaming bundle, where a single provider has been operating facilities for eight months, and is currently building a new casino in Belleville.

Greater Sudbury city council passed a resolution in 2012 conditionally supporting a casino for the city, in particular one that helps the city fund a new OHL arena, as well as other amenities.

The four preferred sites are Sudbury Downs, downtown, the South End and The Kingsway.

"With the northern bundle, we're still on track to announce a service provider in early 2017,” Bitonti said. “No changes there."

There was some confusion last week, he added, when the OLG cancelled one element of its modernization program. Bitonti said not many people outside of Sault Ste. Marie were aware that two modernization programs were ongoing.

"We have two modernization procurements out — one is for the gaming side, for the slots and casinos. That is still continuing," he said. "We did have one for lottery that we were looking for a single service provider for our lottery business. That's what we've withdrawn right now, in favour of a revised approach to lottery modernization.

"A lot of people didn't know this was happening because the lottery headquarters in Sault Ste. Marie, most of the people who work for the lottery are in the Sault and it would have affected them more."

Once a service provider is announced, they will operate out of Sudbury Downs before deciding whether to remain there or build a new facility.


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Darren MacDonald

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