BARRIE, ONTARIO, Sept. 27 - This week, Barrie bingo players will be the first to see what the future holds for bingo centres and games in Ontario.

Members of the media are invited on Wednesday, September 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. to Barrie Charity Bingo at 52 Bayfield Street, to the launch of the first of five Ontario bingo sites selected for a bingo revitalization project.

The bingo centre will open to the public the following day.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC), Boardwalk Gaming Centre Barrie and the Barrie Charity Bingo Sponsors Association have partnered to launch this pilot project, to revitalize the charity bingo industry, which supports thousands of grassroots not-for-profit organizations.

Highlights of the revitalization pilot project include extensive renovations to the bingo centre itself to offer players a more comfortable and enjoyable environment, the testing of electronic bingo games, enhanced customer service, and a new revenue-sharing model among the bingo centres, charities and the province.

Electronic bingo will give players the option of playing games through computer terminals and/or hand-held devices as a compliment to playing traditional paper bingo cards.

"The Barrie bingo pilot project is an important test of the combined efforts of the industry - including the service providers, charities and the OLGC - to reinvigorate the business and raise more money for charities," said George Sweny, OLGC Senior Vice President - Lottery. "The provincial government understands the need for charities to be able to rely on bingo to raise money and continue delivering their good works."

"Our efforts, with our partners, will help shape the face of bingo in Ontario," said Jordan Gnat, President and CEO of Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment. "Bingo is cool, and this new facility, Ontario's first Boardwalk Gaming Centre, will prove just that. This will be a great success and will ensure the long-term revenue for the 66 charities that rely on bingo for their local municipal charitable funding."

Charities also welcome the revitalization effort.

"Charities in Barrie and elsewhere are glad that the province has responded to our calls to modernize the business and turn around years of decline in bingo fund-raising," said Darla McPherson, President of the Barrie Charity Bingo Sponsors Association. "We're eager to see how well players react to the new environment and new ways to play."

The bingo revitalization project was announced in January 2005, as part of the provincial government's gaming strategy that focuses on the development of a sustainable and responsible gaming industry, and assigned the OLGC to take a lead role.

The Barrie pilot is one of five taking place at various
locations across Ontario with sites also being developed in Kingston, Peterborough, Sudbury and Toronto.

In addition to electronic bingo technical expertise, OLGC is also contributing marketing, financial and project management.

The OLGC, an arms-length government agency, is mandated to deliver socially responsible gaming entertainment and economic benefits for the people of Ontario.

The OLGC currently operates BIG LINK BINGO, a series of
electronically-linked bingo games played simultaneously at dozens of bingo halls across Ontario.

The OLGC was created in 2000 by merging the Ontario
Casino Corporation (established in 1994) and the Ontario Lottery Corp. (established in 1975).

The OLGC reports to the Minister of Pubic Infrastructure and Renewal.

Know your limit, play within it!