OLG lottery tickets shrink as part of agency's initiative Bet On Green

TORONTO , Jan. 27 /CNW/ - Good things come in small packages, even if they are lottery tickets. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is once again reducing the size of printed lottery tickets as part of its Bet On Green program, OLG's ongoing commitment to being an environmentally friendly organization. This move saves 5,000 trees or 39 million sheets of paper from provincial landfills and $1.4 million dollars annually.

"To put this in perspective, the amount of paper we'll now be saving on an annual basis is seven and a half times the height of the CN Tower in Toronto ," said Alex Hocevar, Senior Manager for Bet On Green.

Printed lottery tickets have been reduced in size by 25 percent - an additional 10 percent reduction over the initial 15 percent announced last year. A removal in ticket white space, marketing and promotion space and the reduction of brand logos all contribute to a smaller and more compact ticket.

Reducing the size of lottery tickets is an important step towards reducing OLG's paper consumption and making a positive impact on the environment. Through its Bet On Green program, OLG has set a goal of reducing paper consumption by 80 percent. The ticket reduction initiative will contribute to 17 percent of the overall goal.

Bet On Green is an internal OLG program designed to improve the environmental impact of OLG's operations, increase green awareness among customers and employees and become a global leader in energy-efficient gaming.

Using less paper is a key component of these environmental initiatives that also include efforts to power several OLG facilities across the province with electricity produced from clean and renewable sources.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, casinos, slots, and resort casinos have generated more than $28 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

For further information: For images, interviews or information, please contact: Sarah Kiriliuk, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Media Relations Manager - Winners Media, [phone] or [email protected]