The latest cheque
In April 2026, InQuinte reported that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had paid the City of Belleville $720,976 for the fourth quarter of OLG's fiscal year (1 January to 31 March 2026), for hosting Shorelines Casino Belleville. For the full fiscal year, 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, the city received $3,092,266. Since the casino opened in January 2017, the total is $25,415,851.
How the money is calculated
When construction began in 2016, the trade press reported the agreement as 5.25% of the first C$65 million earned by the casino's electronic games, plus a 4% share from table games. We could not find the formula on an OLG page, so treat the percentages as reported, not verified. The principle is the same across Ontario: the host municipality gets a share of gaming revenue, paid quarterly. InQuinte's report adds that, province-wide, host communities have received almost $2.4 billion in non-tax gaming revenue since 1994.
What the numbers say, and what they do not
| Period | Paid to Belleville |
|---|---|
| Q4 of fiscal 2025–26 (Jan–Mar 2026) | $720,976 |
| Fiscal 2025–26 (Apr 2025–Mar 2026) | $3,092,266 |
| Since January 2017 | $25,415,851 |
Spread over roughly nine years, the total comes to a little under $3 million a year on average. The latest fiscal year was slightly above that average. Those are the numbers. They do not tell you what the city spent the money on, how much the casino's guests lost in total, or what a household in Belleville gave up or gained because a casino opened on Bell Boulevard. Anyone telling you that a casino is simply "good for the town" or simply "bad for the town" is skipping those questions.
Why we include this on a hotel site
Because it is part of the place. If you stay at 400 Bell Boulevard and spend an evening at 380, a share of what you lose ends up with the city. That is not a reason to gamble. It is a fact about the building next door, and you should know it.
If gambling has stopped being fun, ConnexOntario answers 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. More on our responsible gambling page.