Pickering has collected nearly $76 million in non-tax gaming revenue from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation since the Pickering Casino Resort opened its doors in July 2021, according to figures released by the city.
The latest payment of $16,380,715 covers OLG’s 2025-2026 fiscal year, which ran from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The funds flow to the municipality through a Municipal Contribution Agreement with the provincial gaming agency, which shares a portion of slot and table game revenues with host communities across Ontario.
Pickering officials say the city has been consistently reinvesting casino revenues into programs, services, and infrastructure projects that directly benefit residents across all wards. The gaming funds have been allocated across a broad range of current and capital budget priorities since the casino first began operating nearly four years ago.
Among the areas supported by casino revenues are community grants that fund local non-profit organizations and community events, including festival programming throughout the city during the spring and summer months. The money has also backed City Centre planning, design, and implementation work aimed at shaping Pickering’s evolving downtown core into a vibrant urban hub.
Debt reduction and other financial sustainability measures have also been supported by the gaming dollars, helping strengthen the city’s long-term fiscal position. Parks, recreation, and facility improvements have received funding, including upgrades to community centres and sport infrastructure used by residents of all ages across the municipality.
Municipal infrastructure and service enhancements round out the list, with casino revenues supporting public realm improvements, traffic management projects, and fire service upgrades that contribute to community safety and overall quality of life throughout Pickering’s growing neighbourhoods.
Looking ahead to 2026, the city plans to continue directing casino revenues toward similar priorities. Community grants, parks and recreation improvements, municipal facility upgrades, and public infrastructure projects are all on the agenda, with investments aligned to council’s budget priorities and designed to enhance the quality of life for Pickering residents year after year.
The Pickering Casino Resort, located in the city’s entertainment district, has become a significant economic engine for the municipality since its opening. Beyond the direct gaming revenue payments, the facility generates steady employment, attracts visitors to the area from across the region, and supports surrounding businesses in the local hospitality and retail sectors.
The nearly $76 million total represents one of the larger municipal gaming revenue accumulations in the Greater Toronto Area over a comparable period, reflecting both the scale of the Pickering operation and the strong performance of the Ontario gaming market since pandemic restrictions were lifted.
For Pickering residents, the ongoing revenue stream provides a measure of financial stability that many municipalities simply lack. The non-tax revenue helps fund essential services and capital projects without placing additional burden on property taxpayers, a benefit that council has consistently emphasized in its annual budget communications.
As the casino continues to operate and the city grows, the gaming revenue partnership with OLG is expected to remain a cornerstone of Pickering’s financial planning for the foreseeable future, supporting the infrastructure and community investments needed to accommodate one of Durham Region’s fastest-growing municipalities.
