Second quarter casino hosting payout of nearly $4.2 million for City of Pickering

The City of Pickering is nearly $4.2 million richer after depositing the second quarter payment for hosting Pickering Casino Resort.

The payout of $4,184,660 from Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) brings the total for the fiscal year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) to $9,729,762. Since the gaming site opened in July 2021, Pickering has received more than $52 million.

The payout represents one of the largest issued in the province this year.

“Land-based casinos serve as a source of good local jobs and generate important economic activity in municipalities that host gaming sites,” said Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, who is also the MPP for the local Pickering-Uxbridge riding. “Proceeds from gaming … help strengthen local infrastructure and support community programs.”

Since 1994, host communities have received more than $2.1 billion in non-tax gaming revenue. The payments are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site.

OLG shares proceeds of casino gaming with local communities, contributing to economic development including infrastructure and job creation. The payments are part of OLG’s commitment to reinvesting 100 per cent of casino profits back into the province.

Casino operators have also invested more than $2.2 billion in private sector capital investment across the province in the past eight years, leading to the opening of seven new casinos, one in development and additional gaming expansions and non-gaming amenities.