New casino hope rises in Ontario

London expects to land a €94 million casino project in order to increase cash injection from gaming to state coffers.

Canada.- The London city hall announced it has raked €3.22 million from the Western Fair slots in 2017 amid talks about a potential €94 million casino project. The new venue would be developed by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, Canada’s largest private casino operator.

London officials were celebrating the €3.22 million contribution by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) but were eager to see what would happen with Gateway’s project, which would boost the state coffers’ income. However, negotiations for the venue, which was initially planned to be built on the Western Fair, have dragged on for over a year and the operator even suggested it may build a venue on Wonderland Road instead.

“Londoners are to remain positive, as we have. We truly believe that this community likes having the casino here,” Tyjondah Marshall Kerr, senior manager of municipal and community relations with OLG said and assured: “We know a casino will stay in London.”

“City council has authorised expanded gaming (…) there is a zoned site at Western Fair,” said Coun. Josh Morgan and added: “They haven’t told me that they don’t want to build there anymore. Certainly they were supportive of us moving through the zoning process.”

According to Gateway spokesman Rob Mitchell, the operator is still evaluating some sites in addition to the Fairgrounds and “looking forward to working with a new (council) and a new mayor.”