The Ontario and Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG) has stepped up its quest to find an operator for its Windsor casino by releasing Request for Proposal (RFP) documents to pre-qualified proponents.

OLG released a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) to identify a ‘highly qualified’ operator back in April, described by President and CEO Duncan Hannay as “the first step in selecting a highly qualified service provider that will ensure the long-term competitiveness of the site while continuing to generate economic benefits for the local community and for Ontario.”

Proponents were subsequently selected through OLG’s RFPQ process, which closed on May 25, before receiving the RFP documents as the Crown corporation advances the process.

OLG said in a statement on Tuesday: “The integrity of the procurement process is of the utmost importance to OLG. Public procurements involve information of a commercially sensitive nature. As a result, details of the RFP documents and the names of pre-qualified proponents will not be released by OLG while the process is ongoing.

“Additionally, there will be no further communication by OLG about the RFP for the Windsor casino until the selected service provider is announced.

“OLG has engaged the services of a Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice throughout the procurement process.”

The Windsor casino is currently known as Caesars Windsor, with the operator signing a one-year contract extension last year to take the partnership to August 2025.

OLG also included the option to further extend the term for a minimum of six months and up to a maximum of 12 months, ending no later than August 2026.

Caesars was given the opportunity to participate in the RPFQ process.