Canadian Gaming Association

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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CANADIAN GAMING INDUSTRY

The Canadian Gaming Association ("CGA") is the national industry organization representing Canadian gaming's leading operators, manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders. The Association's mandate is to create a better understanding of the gaming industry by bringing facts to the general public, elected officials, key decision makers and the media through education and advocacy.

In keeping with CGA's mandate, HLT was engaged to identify and assess the economic contribution of the gaming industry to the Canadian economy. The analysis focused on the impacts from the operation of gaming (i.e. the purchase of goods and services, and labour needed to offer the gaming activity) and government and charity spending of gaming profits (all levels of government including First Nations, and charities are the main benefactors of gaming profits in Canada). The study also addressed capital expenditures on such things as buildings and equipment.

The study determined that the gaming industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in Canada. Over the ten years leading to completion of the study (in 2007), the Canadian gaming industry more than doubled in size from $6.4 billion in gaming revenues in 1995 to over $14.6 billion in 2006. In addition, the industry also generated $721.0 million in non-gaming revenue for a total industry revenue base of $15.3 billion in 2006.