From the moment the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced its modernization strategy, including an intention to locate a new supercasino somewhere in downtown Toronto, residents and councillors were out for blood.
Watching the many discussions has been almost a delicious form of suburban entertainment. Much of the protest centres around the possible effect on well-laid downtown precinct plans, the effect on surrounding restaurants and arts and culture facilities. For good measure, concern for problem gamblers has been thrown in, with research from the nearby Centre for Addiction and Mental Health or our own medical officer of health.
The most important question is about OLG’s strategy to capture new gambling money. As Ontarians, how reliant do we want our provincial government to be on games of chance for revenue? As one casino closes and another is proposed, shouldn’t we ask ourselves if this is an unsustainable way to fund a province?
Currently, the OLG returns $2 billion plus in profits to the provincial government each year, $2 billion in losses to the families who house the gamblers. What happens when the families have no more gambling money to spare? How does the province replace this revenue?
What happens when this newest casino dries up? Vancouver has four casinos, two waterfront convention centres, cruise ships, mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Although tourism thrives in Vancouver today, only five per cent of its flagging casino revenues come from tourism. A great city with great convention facilities is a tourism draw all on its own. Let’s provide just that.
