
Not many people realise that gambling is Canada’s biggest entertainment industry and is roughly the same economic size as film, television, music and professional sports combined.
The average Canadian adult will spent $515 a year on gambling and there was an $11 billion increase in revenue from casinos, slot machines and lotteries between the years 1992 and 2011.
However, during the same period betting on horse racing fell by $217 million.
It is thought that 67% of Ontario based adults have visited a casino or slots facility at least once in their lives.
In total the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) operates 33 gaming sites as well as 10,000 lottery points of sale, four resort casinos, 14 racetrack slot venues and five OLG casinos. In fact, it is the largest gaming organisation in North America.
Since 1975 the OLG has contributed $34 billion to provincial coffers. At present they employ around 7,700 people as well as a further 10,000 indirectly through private sector operators.
The OLG is hoping to add around $100 million each year to its net revenue through expanded online operations and as Canada is the fastest growing online gambling country in the world this seems a very achievable target.
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