Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization
Key Messages
Key Messages

The Charitable Bingo and Gaming industry has been in decline over the last decade.

Charities and commercial operators requested the assistance of OLG to help ensure the
viability of the industry that supports approximately 2,800 charities across Ontario and
the benefits they generate for their communities.

In 2005, OLG launched a pilot test to evaluate the feasibility of modernizing the industry.
Since then, OLG has generated more than $43 million for charities in the pilot sites
located in Barrie, Kingston, Peterborough, Sudbury and Windsor.

OLG, in collaboration with charities, commercial operators and municipalities is now
embarking on a multi-year Revitalization Initiative.

The collective vision of the Initiative is to sustain and grow the Charitable Bingo and
Gaming industry.

It will require a cultural change by all stakeholders to achieve this vision with a united
focus on the key business driver – the customer, and the key business beneficiary –
charities and their local communities.

The goal is to create a new entertainment experience in charitable bingo and gaming
centres to both retain current players and reach out to attract new ones for the overall
benefit of generating revenue for charities and benefits for their communities.

There is tremendous interest and support for the Charitable Bingo and Gaming
Revitalization Initiative. Of the current 61 bingo centres remaining, fully 37 have chosen
and embraced to participate in the Initiative.
Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization
Q&A
1. What is the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative?

The Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative is a partnership between OLG, the
charities, municipalities and commercial operators.

OLG will roll out a standardized suite of paper and electronic games to all interested bingo
halls in Ontario. OLG will offer Bingo, Break-Open Tickets, Raffles and Lottery games or
variations of these games to be played on paper electronic devices or delivered through
electronic dispensing units. This Initiative will deliver about $475 million for Ontario charities
and will create hundreds of part-time jobs while preserving the role of the thousands of
volunteers who are currently involved in community-based charitable activity.

OLG pilot tested the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization model since 2005. Since
then, over $43 million has been raised for charities in Sudbury, Barrie, Kingston,
Peterborough and Windsor.
2. Why is it needed? What is OLG’s role in Charitable Bingo and Gaming Initiative?

The objective is to sustain and grow revenue in a declining industry to ensure charities have
a long-term viable way to fundraise.

The industry has been in decline for more than a decade. We’ve witnessed an average
industry decline of 8% to 10% year over year.

A decade ago there were about 230 bingo halls supporting more than 6,000 charities.
Today, there are about 61 halls remaining, supporting approximately 2,800 charities.

Charities will have a viable way to fundraise to support local programs; halls will be able to
enhance local operations and support local employment; and customers will be offered a
new entertainment experience.

Without the modernization of the Charitable Bingo and Gaming sector, charities will face
shortfalls in their funding and they will be forced to turn to municipalities for direct support.
3. How does the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative work?

The Revitalization Initiative provides for the evolution of existing paper games to electronic
formats. The suite of games will include Bingo, Break-Open tickets, Raffles and Lottery
games or variation of these games played on paper, electronic devices or delivered through
electronic dispensing units.

We are taking existing games being played on paper (i.e. bingo) and putting them on
electronic devices (i.e. e-bingo)

Many of these games have been operating successfully at our six pilot sites across Ontario.

Since 2005, over $43 million has been raised for charities in Sudbury, Barrie, Kingston,
Peterborough and Windsor.

We will continue to offer paper-based bingo for traditional players and will offer those same
paper-based games on touch screens to appeal to lapsed and new players.

Based on our research, we’ve discovered that bingo players want a two to three hour play
experience with good entertainment value in a social environment in their own backyard.
4. What is the commercial operators’ role in this?

Commercial operators will be contracted by OLG to provide operations management at the
charitable bingo and gaming centres as well as invest into facilities upgrades to ensure that
customers’ needs are met.
5. What is the charities role in this?

Charities will continue to have a meaningful role to promote the benefits that their charities
bring to their communities, support customer care
6. What is the municipalities’ role in this initiative?

Municipalities will be contract by OLG to provide management of charity eligibility and use of
proceeds.
7. Why did municipalities agree to the new Charitable Bingo and Gaming Initiative?

The modernization of the Charitable Bingo and Gaming sector is based on a vision of
delivering a great entertainment experience for customers, and sustained revenues for
charities and benefits for the local community.

Without the modernization of the Charitable Bingo and Gaming sector, charities will face
shortfalls in their budgets, funding and they will be forced to turn to municipalities for direct
support.

Commercial operators of bingo halls will also face closure, as the current decline in their
revenues will continue if they are not able to offer modern and exciting electronic games.
8. Which municipalities are involved?
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So far, 37 charitable bingo and gaming centres have chosen to participate.

OLG has been working with the first locations for implementation. These centres are
located in Barrie, Kingston, Mississauga, Penetanguishene, Peterborough, Pickering,
Richmond Hill, Sudbury and Newmarket
9. Is it true slot machines are being installed in my Charitable Bingo and Gaming
Centre?

No. Break-Open Ticket Dispensers are not slot machines.

The Government of Ontario has given OLG very specific parameters around the electronic
gaming equipment that will be permitted at eBingo sites.

These parameters are clearly defined in regulation (Ontario Regulation 81/12) that OLG is
required to follow.

The types of electronic games permitted at eBingo sites are restricted to break open tickets
sold by an electronic break open ticket dispenser, break open tickets on an electronic bingo
device, bingo played on an electronic bingo device and instant games played on an
electronic bingo device.

We are taking existing games being played on paper (i.e. bingo) and putting them on
electronic devices (i.e. e-bingo).

The objective is to sustain and grow revenue in a declining industry to ensure charities have
a long-term viable way to fundraise.

Without this revitalization, more bingo halls would close, and charities would be forced to
turn to municipalities, with already strained budgets, for direct support.

OLG has been working in partnership with municipalities, charities, commercial operators
across Ontario on the Charitable Gaming and Bingo Initiative.
10. Are these the slot machines that used to exist in racetracks across Ontario?

No. Break-Open Ticket Dispensers are not slot machines.

These Break-Open Ticket Dispensers are new to Ontario and do not exist in any location
today. They are electronic devices that dispense today’s permitted paper Break-Open
Tickets.

As for some extra slot machines in our gaming inventory, they are only used at our casinos
or slots facilities.
11. Some municipalities have concerns that by offering eBingo first, OLG will also offer
Video Lottery Terminals at these new bingo sites. Is that true?

No. OLG has been very clear that Video Lottery Terminals will not be offered.

The Government of Ontario has given OLG very specific parameters around the electronic
gaming equipment that will be permitted at eBingo sites.

These parameters are clearly defined in regulation (Ontario Regulation 81/12) that OLG is
required to follow.

The types of electronic games permitted at eBingo sites are restricted to break open tickets
sold by an electronic break open ticket dispenser, break open tickets on an electronic bingo
device, bingo played on an electronic bingo device and instant games played on an
electronic bingo device.
12. What is your response to some Responsible Gambling advocates who say that this
type of gambling will cause addictions?

OLG is committed to employing its same rigorous approach and methodology of responsible
gaming within bingo halls that it has used across its other lines of business.

The RG Program for Charitable Gaming is designed to educate and inform players about the
risks of gambling; encourage safe play. The RG program includes:


CAMH Training for all gaming floor managers and staff; and
Information resources available at key traffic areas including on new games. This
material will explain: how games work; signs of risks for problem gambling; Tips for safe
play; and information on obtaining a range of counseling services in local communities.

Also, self-guided electronic information kiosks will be installed including digital screens
with ongoing messages and interactive devices that engage players to educate them on
the realities the games.

On-site RG education campaigns by both OLG and the Responsible Gambling Council
(RGC). The RGC is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to problem
gambling prevention.
13. How much money can charities expect from this new initiative?

Over eight years of operation, this Charitable Bingo and Gaming Initiative will deliver
about $475 million for Ontario charities.