The City has a Municipal Contribution Agreement with Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation, in which it receives revenues for hosting the Pickering Casino Resort.

Since Pickering Casino Resort opened in July 2021, OLG has issued non-tax gaming revenue payments, totaling $34,751,439 (up to September 30, 2023), to the City of Pickering for hosting the facility, as part of its Municipal Contribution Agreement with Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG). Pickering also shares a portion of this revenue with the Region of Durham.

Casino revenues have been used for both Current and Capital Budget items like:

• Funding for community groups as part of the City’s Community Grants Program
• Consulting for Naming Rights and Sponsorship Evaluation Strategy for City facilities (including City Centre)
• City Centre project-related planning activities and design costs
• Gravel lot parking upgrades (behind Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex)
• Bay Ridges Kinsmen Park soccer turf replacement, Beverly Morgan Park track replacement, various pedestrian signal upgrades, various fire station hall upfits, and the snow clearing program that so many of Pickering’s senior citizens rely on during the winter season.

Staff are working on short and medium-term financial plans that will see us incorporate casino funds for new assets, and asset renewal projects.

These details will be highlighted in the 2024 City Budget.