London city council approves Gateway’s plans

The London city council has voted in favour of the US$75 million casino project from Gateway Casinos.

US.- It seems as Gateway Casinos will have a new chance to keep expanding its reach in the Canadian gambling market. The London city council voted 9-4 in favour of the project that allows Gateway Casinos to build a US$75 million casino in the territory. The proposal doesn’t include a hotel and is expected to open in 2021.

The members of the council voted to rezone a plot of land on Wonderland Road in the southwest end of the city, which allows Gateway to proceed with its US$75 million plans. This approval comes after the company’s efforts to build a US$140 million casino at Western Fair fell through. After that setback, Gateway decided to invest in a new location.

Mayor Ed Holder said: “Every economic indicator says this makes sense for us. They might simply say, they’ve had enough. I’m not fear-mongering, I’m just saying as a business person, as someone who understands that time delays mean real money. You know what it also is? It’s an indicator.” The Mayor has also indicated that this “is an indicator that London isn’t open for business.”

The “Starlight” casino will create 1000 jobs for London. It will bring US$4.5 million in OLG revenue sharing and US$2.5 million in annual tax revenue. The facility will feature 900 slot machines, 40 table games, restaurants and live music.

Holder, who supported the rezoning, said that the city risked losing the casino if they said no. “Gateway can make a choice, and when you understand how business works, particularly as this process has taken longer than some might imagine, they have a choice. They can go north of the 401 or they can go south.”