Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) says in a news release today that it has selected Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (Gateway) as the service provider for the North and Southwest Gaming Bundles, which includes a new casino in North Bay.
As the service provider for the North Gaming Bundle, Gateway will have the opportunity to build two new gaming and entertainment facilities, one in the N5 Gaming Zone (North Bay) and one in the N4 Gaming Zone (Kenora area).
North Bay mayor Al McDonald told BayToday that he will have a response later this morning.
“Today’s announcement of a service provider for the North and Southwest Gaming Bundles is a significant step forward in OLG’s modernization," said Stephen Rigby, OLG’s President and CEO. "The investments Gateway will make in the bundles will help ensure the best possible gaming experience for customers while OLG continues to deliver on its commitment to the people and Province of Ontario."
“We are very excited and pleased to partner with OLG in the modernization of Ontario’s gaming industry,” said Tony Santo, Gateway’s Chief Executive Officer. “In northern and southwestern Ontario, Gateway will work with host communities to bring our unique brands and experiences to customers. On behalf of the 4,000 Gateway employees, we look forward to welcoming OLG colleagues to our team.”
“In 2017, Gateway will celebrate 25 years in the business of gaming and entertainment,” said Gabriel de Alba, Gateway’s Executive Chairman. “Expanding into Ontario is truly an exciting and significant way to mark this important milestone in our company’s history.”
OLG has entered into a Transition and Asset Purchase Agreement with Gateway for each of the North and Southwest Gaming Bundles, which set out the customary closing conditions to be satisfied for OLG and Gateway to enter into a 20-year Casino Operating and Services Agreement (COSA) for each of the bundles. Under the COSAs, Gateway will take over day-to-day operations of:
North
- OLG Casino Thunder Bay
- OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie
- OLG Slots at Sudbury Downs
OLG expects that the service provider will take over day-to-day operations in spring 2017.
The proposed new facilities in North Bay and Kenora will be subject to required approvals, including the provincial government.
Southwest
- OLG Slots at Western Fair District
- OLG Slots at Clinton Raceway
- OLG Slots at Dresden Raceway
- OLG Slots at Hanover Raceway
- OLG Slots at Woodstock Raceway
- OLG Casino Point Edward
OLG employees will transfer to the new service provider and OLG will work with Gateway to ensure they have as smooth and seamless a transition as possible. This includes a requirement for the service provider to retain employees for a period of no less than 12 months in their current position and geographic location, and to provide eligible employees with benefits and a registered pension plan.
While Gateway will be responsible for the day-to-day gaming operations in the bundles, OLG will continue to:
- Conduct and manage gaming in the bundles
- Require compliance with applicable regulations set out by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
- Be the owner of key player information
- Uphold the standards of its Responsible Gambling program through the service provider, including the self-exclusion program
- Distribute Contribution Agreement payments to host communities
Gateway is required to follow all applicable laws and regulations, as well as AGCO standards and rigorous Responsible Gambling standards.
"To OLG, the integrity of its procurement process is of the utmost importance," says the release. "Throughout the procurement process, OLG has engaged the services of a Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice."
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (Gateway) is one of the largest and most diversified gaming companies in Canada.
Operating in Western Canada, Gateway has over 4,000 employees and operates 18 gaming properties with 222 tables and over 6,700 slot machines.
With business partners, Gateway operates 43 restaurants and 1,000 hotel rooms.
Gateway is undertaking an exciting redevelopment strategy to dramatically improve the customer experience and attract new gaming customers. This includes the development of proprietary food and beverage offerings like Match Eatery & Public House and Atlas Steak + Fish.
In 2017, Gateway will celebrate 25 years in the business of gaming and entertainment in Canada. Further information is available at www.gatewaycasinos.com.
OLG is the Ontario government agency that delivers gaming entertainment.
OLG conducts and manages gaming facilities, the sale of province-wide lottery games, PlayOLG Internet gaming, the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres and is leading the integration of horse racing into the provincial gaming strategy.
Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $44 billion to the Province. These payments to the province support the operation of hospitals, amateur sport through the Quest for Gold program, local and provincial charities and problem gambling prevention, treatment and research.
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News Release
Gateway Becomes Canada's Largest and Most Diversified Gaming Company
Ontario Expansion is Next Chapter in Gateway's Successful Growth Strategy
BURNABY, BC — Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd. ("Gateway") is pleased that OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming) has selected Gateway as the service provider for both North and Southwest Gaming Bundles in its modernization of Ontario's gaming industry. The Ontario expansion will bring eleven new properties (nine existing and two planned new builds) to the Gateway portfolio when fully implemented, making Gateway the largest and most diversified gaming company in Canada with properties in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.
The North Gaming Bundle includes OLG Casinos in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie along with OLG Slots at Sudbury Downs. In addition there are planned new builds in Kenora and North Bay. The Southwest Gaming Bundle includes OLG Casino Point Edward along with OLG Slots at Western Fair District in London and OLG Slots at Clinton, Dresden, Hanover, and Woodstock Racetracks. Under the guidance of Gateway Chief Executive Officer, Tony Santo, the Ontario expansion will be led and implemented by a seasoned team of gaming executives based in Ontario.
"We are very excited and pleased to partner with OLG in the modernization of Ontario's gaming industry. In Northern and Southwestern Ontario, Gateway will work with host communities to bring our unique brands and experiences to customers. On behalf of the 4,000 Gateway employees, we look forward to welcoming OLG colleagues to our team," said Mr. Santo.
The awarding of the Gaming Bundles in Ontario is the next step in the continued evolution of Gateway. In 2010, Catalyst Capital Group Inc. ("Catalyst"), Gateway's ownership group, took Gateway and its 9 properties under management to rebuild and restructure the company. A focus on growth and redevelopment will result in Gateway's portfolio having grown to include 29 properties, once the North and Southwest Gaming Bundles are fully implemented. Central to Gateway's success has been the development of exciting proprietary casino brands and signature restaurant brands that have dramatically improved the gaming customer experience while generating important, new customer segments among non-gamers.
"Our Ontario expansion marks an important next step in Gateway's growth strategy – a strategy that has seen us successfully rebuild properties, develop proprietary brands and grow into new markets," said Gabriel de Alba, Gateway's Executive Chairman. "We have made significant investments in jobs and capital in the communities where we operate in BC and Alberta. In Ontario, we look forward to continuing to invest, build and grow."
Gateway has signed a business transition and asset purchase agreement with OLG on December 12, 2016 and, subject to customary closing conditions, is committed to subsequently signing a 20-year casino operating and services agreement when the acquisition closes next year.
About Gateway Casinos & Entertainment
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (Gateway) is one of the largest and most diversified gaming companies in Canada. Operating in Western Canada, Gateway has over 4,000 employees and operates 18 gaming properties with 222 tables and over 6,700 slot machines. With business partners, Gateway operates 43 restaurants and 1,000 hotel rooms. Gateway is undertaking an exciting redevelopment strategy to dramatically improve the customer experience and attract new gaming customers. This includes the development of proprietary food and beverage offerings like Match Eatery & Public House and Atlas Steak + Fish. In 2017, Gateway will celebrate 25 years in the business of gaming and entertainment in Canada. Further information is available at www.gatewaycasinos.com.
About The Catalyst Capital Group
The Catalyst Capital Group Inc., a private equity investment firm with more than $6 billion in assets under management founded in 2002, is a leader in operationally focused turnaround investing. The firm's mandate is to manufacture risk adjusted returns, in keeping with its philosophy of "we buy what we can build." Catalyst's Guiding Principles of investment excellence through operational involvement, superior analytics, attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, team and reputation are key to the firm's success. The Catalyst team collectively possesses more than 110 years of extensive experience in restructuring, credit markets and merchant and investment banking in Canada, the United States, Latin America and Europe.
