The modern history of gambling in Toronto begins in 1975, when the provincial government passed the Ontario Lottery Corporation Act. The bill, similar to ones that were being passed across the country in that era, allowed for state-run lotteries to be offered. Over time, the structure of this entity has been updated, and it is now known as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), a state-owned firm that is responsible for the oversight of virtually the entire gaming industry in the province.
Today, the lottery remains an important part of the provincial gaming industry, generating considerable revenue for the government. There are numerous games offered, starting with major national jackpots like Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49. Many other options are also available for players, including scratch card games, daily number drawings, and even some sports betting offerings.
The creation and growth of the lottery system set the stage for even bigger changes to come. In the early 1990s, a plan was hatched to bring full casino gambling into the province, a move that was expected to create a large new revenue stream for Ontario to benefit from. Despite opposition from those who feared the social ills that legalized gambling could bring to the region, the first resort – Casino Windsor – was opened in 1993.
Today, the OLG owns ten casinos throughout Ontario, including several that are operated by established gaming firms (the Windsor resort, for instance, is operated by Caesars, and is now known as Caesars Windsor). While none of these permanent locations are actually in Toronto, there are several that are reasonably close, giving residents the option of driving to one without planning a major vacation. For instance, Fallsview and the Casino Niagara are both located right near Niagara Falls, while Casino Rama and the Great Blue Heron are also within reasonable distance from the city. Casinos in Ontario (as well as horse racing and similar parimutuel betting options) are only legally available to those who are at least 19 years of age, while the lottery can be played starting at age 18.
Another option is the the annual casino that operates during the Canadian National Exhibition, typically running throughout the entirety of the fair. With a wide variety of table games and large poker tournaments, this is a popular destination for Canadians and other tourists who are already interested in visiting the CNE.
Horse racing has also long been a popular pastime throughout Ontario, and for the past 60 years, Toronto has been the center of the action. The Woodbine Racetrack has been open since 1956 (an older track by the same name dates back to 1874), and hosts some of the most prestigious thoroughbred and Standardbred races in all of Canada. The outside turf course is the one that sees the most important action: it is the only 1.5 mile turf course for thoroughbreds in North America (Belmont Park’s dirt track is the only other 1.5 mile course), and play host to numerous important races including the Canadian International Stakes, which qualifies its winner to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
It’s worth noting that horse racing isn’t the only action taking place at Woodbine. The facility also hosts slots and VLTs, an arrangement that (as in many other locations) has helped breathe new life into the racing industry. In total, the OLG hosts slots at 14 different tracks throughout Ontario. They also run four e-bingo centers throughout the province, located in Barrie, Kingston, Peterborough, and Sudbury.