The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation will bring 150 new jobs to Sault Ste. Marie over the next three years.

Announced at OLG headquarters this afternoon, the new hires will bolster the city’s current complement of around 500 workers across a variety of departments by the end of 2028.

“Sault Ste. Marie has been home to the OLG for more than 30 years, and we’re proud of the role that we play in this community,” said Duncan Hannay, OLG’s president and CEO.

“These are high-quality, good-paying jobs in areas like operations, product management, technology, corporate services, and with more than 500 employees here today . . . we know how important this is and how meaningful this is to the community.”

Hiring for the new jobs has already begun, with 39 positions filled since the beginning of the year.

They have arrived less than a calendar year after Algoma Steel laid off over 1,000 employees – a development that contributed directly to OLG strengthening its workforce in the Sault, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said.

“On Dec. 1, 2025, I got a call from the Premier that morning, and that was the day the news broke about Algoma Steel’s layoffs, and he committed to me on that day that OLG jobs would be part of the solution to that challenge,” Shoemaker said.

“Today, the provincial government has delivered on that promise.”

Shoemaker has long advocated for more OLG positions to come to the Sault, as a sizable portion of its 1,400-person workforce is based out of the Greater Toronto Area – across the province from its headquarters.

“This is a significant announcement for our community,” he said.

“These are good jobs and they are career opportunities for people who live here, opportunities for people who want to come home, and opportunities for young people who want to build their careers here in the Sault.”

Shoemaker said that, according to Ministry of Finance numbers from 2014, the economic benefit of a Sault-based employee is seven times greater for the province than one based in the Toronto area, with a lower cost of living, longer retention rates, and the fact that OLG owns its Sault facility as opposed to renting in the GTA.

While he welcomed the new positions, Shoemaker said he views the announcement as a starting point – with hopes to see OLG exceed 150 new local hires by the end of the three-year commitment.

“I’m not done pestering,” he said.

“My position has always been that all the jobs should be here because we are the headquarters. This gets us one step closer to that objective.”

It’s a position that’s been heard clearly by the provincial government, who credited Shoemaker’s advocacy as an important part of today’s announcement.

“The mayor has been very persistent about it over time, but for good reason. The impact of 150 jobs in Sault Ste. Marie cascades through families and kids and the community,” said Doug Downey, Ontario Attorney General and interim Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

“When Algoma (Steel) turned a corner, it was critical that we find a way to support the community.”

Today’s announcement arrived alongside a $1.8-million cheque to the city through OLG’s annual Municipality Contribution Agreement payment, a program that has brought nearly $40 million in revenue to the city since 1999.

The funds raised through the agreement directly support infrastructure projects, such as road repairs, as well as larger recreational facility projects like the construction of the Northern Community Centre.

“This money helps us get further in those projects than we otherwise would be able to,” Shoemaker said.

Here is the news release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming: 

As part of the Ontario government’s plan to protect and support economic growth in northern Ontario, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is launching a plan to create approximately 150 new good-paying jobs in Sault Ste. Marie over the next three years.

This initiative will create new career opportunities for local workers and deliver lasting economic benefits for Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding region.

“On behalf of the Ontario government, I want to thank Mayor Shoemaker and OLG for their incredible work to strengthen the local economy and support good-paying jobs right here in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Doug Downey, attorney general of Ontario and interim minister of tourism, culture and gaming.

“The expansion of OLG’s workforce and its continued investments in the community reflect our shared commitment to creating jobs and driving long-term economic growth across the region.”

Already one of the city’s largest employers, OLG’s expansion is expected to increase its local workforce by 12 per cent. These positions will include new jobs in Sault Ste. Marie to meet OLG’s growing workforce needs, as well as retaining positions affected by evolving roles and anticipated retirements. These new full-time jobs will create opportunities for everyone from recent graduates to experienced professionals, with roles in operations, product management, corporate services and more.

Since 1999, Sault Ste. Marie has received nearly $40 million through OLG’s Municipal Contribution Agreement program, which invests in communities that host land-based casinos. This funding supports local priorities, including infrastructure, capital projects, emergency services and other initiatives that strengthen the community. OLG has also contributed more than $2.5 million to local events and initiatives through sponsorships, while supporting hundreds of additional jobs through its network of partners, vendors and retailers.

As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government will continue working with communities and partners across northern Ontario to build a stronger, more resilient economy and ensure the region remains a place where people can build their careers, raise families and contribute to communities.

Quick facts:


Sault Ste. Marie has been home to OLG’s corporate headquarters for more than 30 years.
As of May 2026, OLG employs more than 520 people in Sault Ste. Marie.
OLG expects to fill approximately 150 roles in the community over the next three years.
OLG officially opened its headquarters in Sault Ste. Marie in January 1992, when it was known as the Ontario Lottery Corporation.

As an agency of the Ontario government, OLG is mandated to conduct and manage commercial gaming and lotteries in a socially responsible manner, with its core purpose to generate provincial revenue, support economic development and deliver maximum financial value to fund key government priorities like health care and education.