While the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has said slot machines will not be placed into Bingo Halls in Ontario, the machines they appear poised to place into Bingo Halls look and operate alarmingly similar to slot machines.
According to regulations published on the Ontario government website this month, the revitalization of Bingo Halls will include the introduction of:
- Break open tickets played on an electronic bingo device.
- Bingo played on an electronic bingo device.
- Instant games played on an electronic bingo device.
The following is a promotional video for one company that sells the electronic Break Open (Pull Tab) machines:
The following video is a demonstration of an instant Bingo machine. It should be noted that the Bingo portion of the machine is located in the top right corner of the machine. The rest of the machine is clearly designed to resemble a slot machine.
According to recent documents approved on April 18 by Mississauga City Council, the Bingo revitalization is a financial partnership between current Bingo operators, the municipality and the OLG. It does not appear there is any process to send the operation for RFP or to offer further public consultation on the topic. It is also clear that Bingo operators are fully supportive of the changes, which appear to be monumental in scope.
One of the larger Bingo operators in Ontario is Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment, a company linked to the Kilmer Group, a private investment holding company owned by Larry Tanenbaum, that also owns an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Tanenbaum’s Plaza Gaming and Entertainment was linked two years ago to efforts that never materialized to build the now stalled Belleville Racetrack and Racino.
Today, on Boardwalk’s website, it states, the following: “Over the next 12 months, Boardwalk looks to make further investments at select locations. It is part of Boardwalk’s continuing commitment to greater customer enjoyment and comfort.”
As an example of revenues that electronic pull tab Bingo is capable of generating, a bill was recently passed in Minnesota to have electronic pull tab and instant Bingo approved. The following chart, put out by the Minnesota State Lottery and State of Minnesota Gambling Control Board, indicates gross revenues from Electronic pull tabs and bingo would account for $2.3 Billion in the state alone:
Over the coming days, Trot Insider will seek clarity on whether or not Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is entering into a partnership with Bingo operators to share revenues on “Slot like” machines across the province while at the same time ending the Slots at Racetrack partnership, which annually generates more than $1 billion for the province of Ontario.
Has anyone looked into the
Has anyone looked into the possibility of collusion between the OLG and the Kilmer group. Look at the individuals involved! Looks fishy to me!
Houston, we have a
Houston, we have a problem
My son just arrived from Ontario. He is smart, an electrical engineer with an MBA from U Of T. I asked him what he thought of the Liberals cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks agreement. His answer ? Don't know anything about it but everyone knows the racing business is crooked and being subsidized by the government.
We have a major PR problem here.
I explained the cancellation of the agreement but he remained unconvinced - Its the government Dad, they do that all the time - so what.
Is this really representative of the feeling of the people of Ontario. If so we have no recourse other than the law. Time to prove our point through litigation. No one can argue with the law. Right ?
http://www.thestar.com/news/i
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1103564--larry-tanenbaum-hi…
This article from the Star Dec 17 2011 gives some insight into Godfrey's and Tanenbaums relationship.
Well I thought Hiawatha
Well I thought Hiawatha Horse Park should apply for a bingo license well before this story and I guess I was right. It would be the only way to get slot gaming also. :)
It is obvious that neither
It is obvious that neither Paul Godfrey nor Rod Phillips understand gambling.The placing of slots in bingo halls will be a complete bust, every English pub has a slot machine or 2 but they get very little use. People who frequent bingo halls won't pull slot machines,ironically racetracks and slot machines are a perfect match,that is why the program was such a huge success.The OLG has killed the best horse in the barn. Unfortunately when they realise what they have done it may be too late.The Liberal party will definately be beaten at the next election so if racing can hang on we may survive this nightmare.
There is plenty of info in
There is plenty of info in the press that will eventually become a story regarding corruption and patronage. The lawsuits and constant stories will eventually make the liberals realize that maybe people are watching and hopefully for the racing community the indescretions become so blatant the rest of Ontarians become as digusted as the members of the racing industry.
In reply to There is plenty of info in by glenn bechtel
I agree Glenn except I hope
I agree Glenn except I hope someone is doing there homework (OHRIA)so a package of info can be leaked to an investigative reporter. For obvious reasons the info needs to be extremely accurate. Little tidbits here and there in the press won't do the job. It needs to be a very comprehensive story that makes it into the papers. It needs to be near the front page and done by a reputable reporter. Then a copy sent to all the opposition MPPs. The Liberal party is bad and I use that word "bad" in its minute sense. I hope an election is forced. MPP Frank Klees has been relentless about ORANG. It would be nice to have a pitbull type member of both opposition parties start to run with all this crap. Chuck Ibey
This government and its'
This government and its' trusty side kick the OLG are not only shameful and thoughtless but are spinning wildly out of control.It reminds me of a giant fireworks display where one of most powerful rockets malfunctions and spirals aimlessly into the crowd injuring thousands.
This is outright patronage.
This is outright patronage. Send this stuff to CBC, CTV, Global etc. Somebody has to run with it. This is exactly the kind of evidence we need of the hidden agenda.
Glad you posted this, its
Glad you posted this, its something I researched last week, well done Standardbred Canada !!
To add to this:
Larry Tanenbaum served as National Revenue Chair of the Liberal Party of Canada during Prime Minister Paul Martin’s term of office.
Larry Tanenbaum was President & CEO of Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited from 1968 to 2000, and is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited made a $8,880 donation to the Liberal Fund last year.
http://www2.elections.on.ca/stats/11files/election/cr4/11libcr4.htm
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More fuel to the fire:
http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/jordan-gnat/12/227/381
Jordan Knat - Current Managing Director at Scientific Games
Executive Vice President at Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited
Formerly - Past President and CEO at Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment
President and CEO at Midnorthern Group Inc
*** Managing Director of the Scientific Games - company makes the machines that will go into the bingo halls ***
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The puzzle seems to becoming very clear now IMO:
Get tipped off about whats going down from your pals, buy up as many bingo halls as you can possibly buy and then wait for the announcement by your Liberal Pals and your OLG buddies that machines are now going to bingo halls. Have your Executive Vice President who also, just coincidently happens to be the managing director of a company that makes the machines that go into all the bingo halls and cha ching, with your cut, you just hit the jackpot!! Someone please stop me !!
Gary Blackburn
In reply to Glad you posted this, its by Gary Blackburn
Maybe that gambling lawyer
Maybe that gambling lawyer that Sue Leslie's group can determine if this involves bribery, influence peddling and/or colusion on the part of both the provincial government and the OLG...
In either case it does explain why the Liberal government trampled democracy at every step to do this to the racing industry. But who will end up being their "partner" with the casinos???
The double standard is alive
The double standard is alive and well with the Liberals. Do unto others what you no longer want to do with racetracks. How many people are involved in operating Bingo Halls. How much spinoff into the community ? Next to zero. Yet somehow this is more important than an industry with 60000 jobs at stake and billions in capital investment.
"financial partnership" sure
"financial partnership" sure sounds like a revenue sharing agreement to me. What a bunch of hypocrites.
I Hope Mr. Tanenbaum proceeds with caution entering into contracts with OLG. OLG is likely to get him to spend a bunch of money upgrading bingo halls and then pull the plug just like they did to the racetracks.