North Bay on a list for a casino

[Rick (Admin)]

North Bay on a list of northern communities eligible for a casino




NORTH BAY - When Mike Harris was premier, the prospect of a casino coming to North Bay was a hot topic. Presentations and debate at city council and in the community at times became heated, as the public and councillors talked about either the financial benefits or the social ills associated with gambling.

Ultimately, the Harris government introduced a moratorium on any new casinos and all discussion proved moot.

Fast forward to today, and the province has once again included North Bay on a list of northern communities eligible for a casino. Mind you, North Bay could have said no but then watched on the sidelines as a community like Callander, for example, embraced the idea and reaped the benefits of revenue sharing. Again, when Harris was premier, the Lookout Inn in Callander was often cited as an ideal location for a casino and convention centre. That's a gamble North Bay could not afford to make.

Surprisingly, though, there's not been a lot of discussion or debate about the prospect of a casino in North Bay, either for or against. By contrast, in Sudbury, even before the province has chosen an operator, detailed designs and locations have already been prepared and bandied about, and it's been hailed as another tool for downtown revitalization.

Granted, it may not be too clear yet what the province or this single operator has specifically in mind for a casino in North Bay. But that may change this week, with the arrival of Rod Phillips, president and CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. He's here to talk with city representatives and is scheduled to speak at a North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday.

What is known is that the city could stand to receive a 5% share of overall slot revenue and possibly more, depending on the size of the operation.

When pressed this week, Mayor Al McDonald and several councillors told The Nugget's Gord Young that, while council has to ultimately decide, North Bay could follow the example set by Brantford, which used its casino revenue to draw post-secondary institutions into its downtown.

McDonald said North Bay could adopt a strategy to attract medical professionals, invest in hangars to help attract business to the airport industrial park or help attract more students to the community.

In a community beset with news of the divestment of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, as well as layoffs and some services disappearing or being downloaded, that casino revenue may well be key to laying the foundation for new initiatives, strategies and developments to spur growth in North Bay. That's a gamble North Bay can't afford to ignore.


www.nugget.ca/2013/03/01/casino-may-help-spur-growth

[Rick (Admin)]

Potential operator known later this year


NORTH BAY - location and scheme of a potential casino in North Bay won't be discussed in earnest until an operator is chosen later this year.

Rod Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., told city officials and business representatives Monday the process to choose an private operator will take most of this year.

The deadline for the OLG's 'Request for Pre-Qualifications' is March 14 and it will take several months to whittle it down to a workable number, Phillips said.

There has been a “great deal of interest” expressed, he said, to operate the Northern Ontario bundle of casinos, which includes the three existing sites in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Thunder Bay, plus proposed new ones in North Bay and Kenora.

Phillips said they'd expect anyone who qualifies to make a proposal will be sent to each city so they can see for themselves the community design and potential.

Mayor Al McDonald, who spoke after Phillips at a luncheon OLG held for the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, said residents and council have had an “intelligent” conversation about the pros and cons of hosting a casino.

City council voted in favour of the idea this fall as part of the OLG process to ensure a community is interested. The chamber also put its support behind having a casino with the initial OLG focus on having it close to the downtown core.

McDonald said the next big important debate will be about the what to do with the community share, which is expected to be 5.25% of the gross revenue, as well as the best location.

Phillips said the casino in Sault Ste. Marie is a good comparison to what might develop here, with its 13 game tables and about 400 slots employing 250 to 300 people earning an average of $50,000.

While North Bay is somewhat smaller and the limit on slots is said to be 300, the catchment here includes towns along Highway 11 north and south, as well as the western border towns of Quebec.

North Bay's share of the revenue is projected to be close to $1.5-million, depending on its design and success.

Phillips said the Sault chose to put much of its revenue into a hospital to help attract much needed doctors while Brantford — visited by local politicians and municipal staff — invested in residence for post-secondary students to revitalize its downtown.

He said the OLG's “modernization” toward online gaming starting this fall and moving toward privately-operated facilities is expected to grow annual revenues for the province from $2B to slightly more than $3B.

In an editorial board interview at The Nugget following the chamber luncheon at Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, Phillips said it will be interesting to see what the private operator envisions and they'll look to city council for guidance on what might be the best site.

“As long as it works for the community, it probably works for the customers (and business model),” he said, adding the idea is to build something “that lasts and has the ability to be flexible” so it can adjust to market factors.

“We expect to see a successful facility here in North Bay.”


www.nugget.ca/2013/03/04/potential-operator-known-later-this-year

[Rick (Admin)]

Timmins is out of the running again and North Bay and Kenora will profit from these new OLG casino site. There wasn't much of a push done by the private sector for a casino in Timmins. I think it would of been great to see a casino proposal by Cy Rheault attached to the new hotel that he's building on Airport Road in Timmins. $1.5 to $2 million per year for the city isn't a bad profit to minimize taxes paid by the citizen of Timmins.