OLG Releases Interesting Canadian Gambling Statistics
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) released some interesting statistics regarding the state of gambling in Canada, particularly in Ontario, in a bid to show just how the industry is faring overall.
According to OLG, the official lottery corporation of the Canadian province, gambling is the country's largest entertainment industry.
In fact, says the OLG, the industry is around the same size (economy-wise) as film, TV, music and professional sporting events combined.
Canadian Gambling Statistics
Nationally, the average Canadian adult spends $515 a year on gambling activities, according to Ontario Lottery and Gaming. These numbers include lottery tickets and online gambling.
Revenue from casinos, slot machines and lotteries across Canada grew to $11 billion from 1992, when $2.73 billion was reported, to 2011 when $13.7 billion was reported.
Unfortunately, the horse racing industry did not fare as well, and betting on horses declined $217 million (from $532 million to $315 million) in the same period.
The fastest growing gambling activity in Canada is internet gambling, according to the lottery corporation which released its Canadian gambling statistics this week.
Ontario Gambling Data from OLG
The OLG also released information pertaining specifically to Ontario's gambling industry.
It showed that the corporation operates 33 gaming sites, has 10,000 lottery points of sale, four resort casinos, 14 racetrack slot venues and five OLG casinos. As such, the OLG is considered to be the biggest gaming organization in North America.
Since 1975, the OLG has contributed $34 billion to provincial coffers, although the group ranks ninth - or second last - among the provinces in per capita profit from gambling.
Last year alone, OLG Gaming Centers gave back $110 million to their communities, funding college and university campuses, hospitals, community centers and charities.
Recently, the OLG presented its plans for modernization of the corporation, in a bid to become more customer focused and to expand regulated private sector delivery of lottery and gaming. The lottery hopes to see net profit in the province increase by $1.3 billion annually.
The OLG expects to add $100 million to its net revenue annually through the expansion of online operations. A total of 7,700 people are employed by the OLG, while a further 10,000 are indirectly employed via private sector operators.
When it comes the gambling habits of Ontarians 67% of adults in the province have visited a casino or slots facility at least once in their lifetime.
