The much-anticipated Drummond report, issued February 15th, ahead of Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s budget next month, lists 362 measures for helping to reduce the province’s $16-billion deficit. One of Don Drummond’s recommendations is to allow slot machines at facilities outside of casinos and racetracks. This move would impact the horse racing industry significantly in Ontario.

In 1998, the Ontario Government and the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) initiated this partnership to allow slot machines in the province’s licenced racetracks in order to promote live horse racing and benefit the agricultural sector.

As part of slots-at-racetracks program, the horse racing industry receives 20 per cent of the total slot revenues, with 10 per cent going to track operators and the other 10 per cent going back to the industry in the form of investments in breeding, ownership and racing. Host municipalities also receive a portion of the revenues. They receive five per cent from the first 450 machines, and two per cent for each additional slot machine.

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