(L-R) Great Canadian Gaming CEO Rod Baker, Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher and Ontario Lottery and Gaming’s Director of Municipal and Community Relations Jake Pastore, conduct a “virtual ribbon cutting” on various capital projects being funded from non-tax gaming revenue generated by the Shorelines Casino Belleville. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
The City of Belleville, Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation and Shorelines Casino have teamed up to share details on where they city’s profits from the gaming facility are going.
A joint news conference was held at Belleville City Hall Tuesday morning with representatives from the city, the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation and Great Canadian Gaming, which owns and operates the Belleville facility.
Mayor Taso Christopher says the event showcases the strength of the relationship between the three organizations.
The city earned about $2.7 million in non-tax gaming revenue earned over the casino’s first year and split the funds into various reserve accounts.
The capital projects being funded with that money include road paving work around the city, at around $1.2 million, a new police vehicle with automated license plate recognition system, proposed Belleville gateway and tourism signs, the new Quench Buggy, WiFi for the waterfront trail, a portable entertainment stage and upgrades to the docking system at Victoria Harbour.
Presentation boards display various capital projects being funded from non-tax gaming revenue generated by the Shorelines Casino Belleville. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
OLG’s Director of Municipal and Community Relations Jake Pastore says it’s important to show residents exactly how that money is being spent.
And the president of the company that operates the Shorelines Casino Belleville says the facility has performed beyond expectations over its first year.
Great Canadian Gaming President and CEO Rod Baker says the Belleville site has been a catalyst for some other Shorelines projects across the province, including one in Peterborough.
Baker added that 65% of the casino’s one million plus visitors over its first year, were coming from outside of Belleville and credited the casino’s staff, entertainment and food and beverage options for its success.
Great Canadian Gaming CEO Rod Baker gives a speech at Belleville City Hall, on February 13, 2018. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)]
