Province divides gambling profits among municipalities playing host to gaming facilities

Postmedia Staff

Published Mar 20, 2025  •  Last updated 19 hours ago  •  1 minute read
Belleville council and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. have announced the city’s latest annual revenue total from the provincial body.
In an appreciation event held March 18 at city hall, officials announced OLG paid more than $3.5 million to Belleville in the last fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2024.

The funds are allocated through OLG’s municipality contribution agreement with municipalities in which there are gaming facilities. In Belleville’s case, that’s the Shorelines Casino, which opened Jan. 11, 2017.

Ontario shares gambling profits with municipalities through a graduated scale.

In total, the city since 2018 has received more than $21.5 million through the deal.

A joint city-OLG news release stated the past year’s dollars aided 16 local organizations, “including Three Oaks, Continuing on in Education, Community Development Council of Quinte, Next Step Housing Connection, the Open Door Café, Quinte Arts Council and more.”

“It is great to be able to recognize the wonderful partnership we have with OLG through this event each year,” Mayor Neil Ellis stated in the next day’s release. “The Municipality Contribution Agreement brings so much to our community that residents may not be aware of. Yesterday was an opportunity to shine a light on the important organizations that benefit from this partnership and the work they are doing, and to show our sincere gratitude to OLG.”

“OLG is proud to be a vital part of the City of Belleville,” added Kathleen Devine, OLG’s Senior Municipal Relations Manager. “Each and every year, 100 per cent of OLG profits are reinvested in Ontario to support provincial priorities.

“From critical infrastructure to important local programs, to community festivals, OLG’s profits are hard at work in the City of Belleville and all across our province to build stronger communities,” said Devine, who expressed thanks to Shorelines staff for their contributions to life in the city.