Ontario’s Hiawatha Horse Park to close casino operations
The Optional Slots at Racetracks Program (OSARP) ends in March 2026.
Canada.- Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, Canada, has confirmed thats its casino will close in March 2026. The decision is due to the end of the Optional Slots at Racetracks Program (OSARP), a temporary Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG) measure introduced to assist eligible racetracks in 2019.
Gateway Casino Sarnia in Ontario, operated by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, has 150 slot machines on a gaming floor of about 22,000 square feet.
OLG senior vice-president Michelle Eaton said: “The lease agreement for Gateway Casino Sarnia will terminate on March 31, 2026, and will not be extended. This means that casino operations will cease and the casino will close on or before March 31, 2026. We are committed to working with the property owners and the casino service provider to ensure an efficient and timely decommissioning process for Gateway Casino Sarnia.”
OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti added: “From the outset, OSARP was scheduled to end on March 31, 2026, with the casino lease not being extended, and partners being made aware during the process. We will work closely with our casino service providers and property owners to ensure the decommissioning process for these sites is as smooth as possible.”
According to the Petrolia Lambton Independent, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley sent an email to Ontario Premier Doug Ford raising concerns for the loss of more than 100 jobs in the community and impact on the horse racing industry.
“Losing over a 100 jobs plus at this difficult time in the local, Ontario and Canadian economy while we struggle the impacts with the US tariff war is unacceptable from a government agency which gives no rationale,” he said.
The OLG launched online horse racing bets in the Canadian province in August. Players can wager on live horse races by accessing Woodbine Entertainment Group’s (WEG) product through OLG.ca and the OLG app.
OLG is the first Canadian provincial lottery and gaming agency to provide access to online horse racing wagering. Players can bet on races around the world and at Ontario tracks. All bets use pari-mutuel wagering, the only legal form of betting on horse racing in Canada.
