Mississaugas of Scugog score $700,000 in casino earnings

The Mississaugas of Scugog’s casino winnings have been delivered in a $700,000 cheque from the OLG.

On Friday, the OLG announced the First Nation’s share of the Casino’s second-quarter earnings. This quarter ran from July 1 to Sept. 30. The Mississaugas earned $719,848 in total from hosting the casino during that time.

So far this year, the First Nation has earned nearly $1.4 million, which adds to the roughly $35 million it has earned since the site opened in February 2006.

“As it has for decades in Ontario, land-based gaming continues to serve as a source of good local jobs and generates vital economic activity in the communities that host gaming sites,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho.

“From helping build neighbourhood parks to supporting community programs, proceeds received through the Community Contribution Agreement with OLG help make municipalities all across the province better places to live and work,” Cho concluded.

The agreement includes a formula to calculate the town’s share of the casino earnings. This uses a graduated scale based on the site’s revenue and is applied equally to all similar sites. In total, Ontario’s casinos have delivered $2.1 billion to host communities since 1994.

Pickering also received nearly $4.2 million this quarter and Ajax earned more than $1.05 million.

Despite the cash infusions, tensions have run high between the First Nation and the Ontario government for several years. Mississaugas of Scugog Island Chief Kelly LaRocca roundly condemned Premier Doug Ford’s government during the early days of the Greenbelt land swap scandal.

Additionally, the First Nation came out against Ontario’s legalization of online gambling saying,  “Job loss is inevitable…It’s hard to see how governments can talk about reconciliation then take away our community’s main source of economic activity. The GBH Casino has been essential to us lifting our long-term boil water advisory.”