TORONTO, Sept. 26 /CNW/ - The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario today announced the names of final proponents for the ownership and operation of 36 permanent full-time and eight part-time/seasonal charity gaming clubs.

The network of permanent charity gaming clubs, to replace three-day roving Monte Carlo events, was announced in the May 7, 1996 Budget.

Charity gaming clubs are being introduced to provide increased benefits to charitable organizations and to allow greater control, supervision and accountability in the charitable gaming sector.
   
Gaming initiatives will provide up to $180 million annually to Ontario charitable organizations--up from $10 million net annually charities receive under Monte Carlo events that will be eliminated as of March 31, 1998.
   
A charity gaming club will have a maximum of 150 video lotteries and 40 table games. They will be about one-tenth the size of a commercial casino such as Casino Niagara.

    Attachments:
           List of final proponents by cluster and single clubs
           Backgrounder/Chronology--Gaming Initiatives
           Corporate description of final proponents (profiles provided by
           proponents)


   LIST OF FINAL PROPONENTS AND DESCRIPTION OF REGIONS
    ---------------------------------------------------
    CLUSTER PACKAGE 
    ---------------------------------------------------
   CLUSTER 3 - FINAL PROPONENT:

       TRILLIUM GAMING INC.

    Permanent Full-Time Facilities...5
          Peel - North Mississauga
          Toronto - Downtown
          York - East
          Hamilton/Oakville/Burlington
          London
    ---------------------------------------------------

BACKGROUNDER/CHRONOLOGY

May 7, 1996: Minister of Finance announces, in the Ontario Budget, a network of charity gaming clubs to replace the current system of roving Monte Carlo events.
   
November 19, 1996: Bill 75, an act to regulate alcohol and gaming in the public interest and to fund charities through the responsible management of video lotteries is given Royal Assent. Bill 75 also brings about the merger of the Liquor License Board of Ontario (LLBO) and the Gaming Control Commission (GCC) into the new Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
   
February 18, 1997: Gaming Control Commission releases Request For Proposals (RFP) for the operation and ownership of 36 permanent full-time charity gaming clubs and eight part-time/seasonal charity gaming clubs.
   
April 25, 1997: Final date for interested proponents to respond to Gaming
Control Commission RFP. Thirty-nine organizations respond to RFP.
   
August 13, 1997: Gaming Control Commission (Evaluation Committee) announces short list of proponents for charity gaming clubs. Thirteen organizations are short-listed.
   
August 26, 1997: Crown Charity Gaming Inc. announces withdrawal from competition.
   
September 26, 1997: AGCO Board of Directors (the Selection Committee) announces list of final proponents for operation and ownership of charity gaming clubs.
   
Fall, 1997: Contracts to be signed between AGCO and successful proponents. First contracts would be for eight years with option to renew.

PROFILE OF CHARITY GAMING CLUBS

Number of charity gaming clubs: 44 in total; 36 permanent full-time, eight part-time/seasonal.
   
Maximum of 150 video lotteries and 40 table games.
   
Charity gaming clubs may operate seven days a week and up to 24 hours a day depending upon market conditions. They will have minimum table gaming bets of $2 and a maximum of $100. Credit will not be available.
   
Charity gaming clubs will have restrictions around exterior signage and advertising and must be approved by the AGCO.
   
A video lottery (VL) is a player-operated electronic gaming terminal. The VL offers a variety of game themes. Usually they dispense a receipt which shows the dollar value of credits won and is then redeemed for cash.
   
Charity gaming clubs will be permanent establishments strategically located throughout Ontario; and will replace the current roving three-day Monte Carlo events (charity casinos).

   
GENERAL
   
Gaming initiatives announced in the May 7, 1996 Ontario Budget will provide up to $180 million net annually to Ontario charities. This is an increase from $10 million net annually charities currently receive under the present roving Monte Carlo system.
   
Last year, 4,845 Monte Carlo events amounting to just under 15,000 gaming days were licensed by the Gaming Control Commission. Monte Carlo events will be discontinued on March 31, 1998 except in remote regions of Northern Ontario.
   
Charity gaming clubs will be located in permanent facilities which will allow greater control, supervision and accountability to this form of gaming activity.
   
Two per cent of gross revenue from video lotteries up to $9 million annually will be ear-marked for problem gambling initiatives such as education, information, research and treatment.
   
Provincial revenues from charity gaming clubs is estimated to be $200 to $250 million net annually. These revenues will be used to support such major government programs as social services, health and education.