OLG Pays Out $43 Million to Ontario Municipalities in Q1

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has announced that it has made CAD $43,634,211 in first quarter gaming revenue installment payments to 29 Ontario communities that host land-based gaming facilities. This marks an increase from the CAD $27,301,476 paid out in Q4 of 2024.

The payments are based on a formula in the Municipality Contribution Agreement, which applies across all land-based casino sites in the province. It’s a graduated scale of slot machine revenue, and a share of table game revenue and sportsbook revenue for those sites that offer those services.

How Payments Are Calculated

Municipalities receive 5.25 per cent on the first $65 million of slot revenue, 3.0 per cent on the next $135 million of slot revenue, 2.5 per cent on the next $300 million of slot revenue, 0.5 per cent on the slot revenue above $500 million, and 4.0 per cent of table game revenue (if applicable), and 4.0 per cent of sportsbook revenue (if applicable).

According to the breakdown provided by OLG, Casino Woodbine in Toronto site generated the biggest municipality payment in Q1, at CAD $9,147,483, followed by the two Niagara Falls casinos generating a CAD $6,083,249 payment, Casino Pickering at CAD $5,412,098, Caesars Windsor at CAD $2,983,227, and Gateway Casinos Innisfil at CAD $2,315,818.

The Impact of OLG Payments on Local Services

Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said “OLG is a strong partner providing substantial benefits to communities across Ontario. In addition to creating jobs in host gaming communities, OLG’s sharing of local casino revenues with municipalities helps fund important local public services that improve quality of life for residents.”

History of Payments from Casinos in Niagara Falls

In total the casinos in Niagara Falls (Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara) have generated CAD $239,017,727 in payments over their combined history. This includes a payment of CAD $6,083,249 for each of the two Niagara Falls casinos.

Conclusion

As OLG continues to make significant payments to Ontario municipalities, it’s clear that these contributions are having a positive impact on local services and quality of life. By understanding how payments are calculated and the benefits they bring, we can better appreciate the role that OLG plays in supporting communities across the province.