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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Money & Work • Gambling

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario that conducts and manages lottery, casino, internet gaming, charitable gaming, and related gaming activities in the province.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is a Crown corporation that manages gaming in Ontario. It operates lotteries, casinos, and internet gaming on behalf of the province.

What it is

OLG is a provincial Crown corporation created under the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999, and began operating on April 1, 2000. It was formed by merging the Ontario Lottery Corporation and Ontario Casino Corporation. OLG is owned by the Government of Ontario and uses the brand name “OLG” since 2006.

Why it matters

OLG’s proceeds are transferred to the Province of Ontario and support public priorities such as hospitals, health care, problem gambling services, amateur sport, charities, and other government initiatives. The corporation also provides annual funding related to the horse-racing industry and directs revenue to host communities and First Nations.

Key details

OLG conducts and manages lottery games, casino gaming, internet gaming, bingo, and electronic gaming products at charitable gaming centres. Its regulator is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The corporation has its head office in Toronto and operates as an enterprise agency of the provincial government.

In short

  • OLG is the province's gaming manager, operating lotteries, casinos, and internet gaming.
  • Created in 2000 from a merger of two earlier corporations.
  • Annual proceeds support health care, problem gambling, and other public programs.
  • OLG is a Crown corporation, not a private company.
Canadian angle

OLG is directly relevant to Canadian readers because it is an Ontario public-sector gambling operator whose proceeds support provincial programs and services.

Quick questions

What is the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation?
It is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario that runs and manages provincially authorized gaming activities, including lotteries, casinos, internet gaming, and charitable gaming.
When was OLG created?
OLG was created by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999, and began operating on April 1, 2000.
What happens to OLG profits?
OLG’s proceeds are transferred to the Province of Ontario and used to support public priorities such as health care, hospitals, problem gambling programs, sport, charities, and related initiatives.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Lottery_and_Gaming_Corporation
    Supports: Crown corporation status, Ontario ownership, general gaming activities, branding as OLG
  2. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation — https://about.olg.ca/
    Supports: Official description of OLG’s role and activities
  3. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation — https://about.olg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OLG-Annual-Report-2023-2024.pdf
    Supports: Mandate, operating lines, and classification as an operational enterprise agency
  4. CGAO — https://cgao.ca/olg/
    Supports: Creation date, public revenue contributions, and public-benefit context
  5. Ontario Legislative Assembly — https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/node-files/committee/report/pdf/2021/2021-02/AGENCY%20REVIEW%20OF%20THE%20ONTARIO%20LOTTERY%20AND%20GAMING%20CORPORATION%20.pdf
    Supports: Creation under the 1999 Act and merger of predecessor corporations
  6. Public Appointments Secretariat, Government of Ontario — https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/Agency/241
    Supports: Legal basis, governance, and board appointment details
  7. Office of the Auditor General of Ontario — https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en22/AR_OLG_en22.pdf
    Supports: Responsible activities and funding relationship to the horse-racing industry
  8. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — https://www.agco.ca/en/book/export/html/246196
    Supports: Regulatory context for lottery and gaming in Ontario