Ontario has agreed with MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. to end the operator's exclusive rights to casino gaming in the Niagara Region. MGE keeps Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara but loses its monopoly. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) will run a tender for new casino operators later this year.
Tender and the mayor's case
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, who has argued for years for competitors, told the Niagara Falls Review that monopolies do not serve the public and breed 'fat cats'. New casinos would draw investment into tourism and hospitality. Not one hotel has gone up in Niagara Falls in 18 years. He expects competition to bring spas, restaurants and thousands of jobs.
The decision sits inside Destination Niagara, the strategy Premier Doug Ford announced in December. It aims to double tourist traffic into the region through new casinos, attractions and airport expansion. Acting tourism minister Doug Downey called the agreement an 'important milestone' for that plan.
Industry reaction
OLG president Duncan Hannay said the deal would help Niagara's casino business reach its potential and its economic effect. Richard Taylor, president of Niagara Casinos, backed the region's growth and pointed to Fallsview and Casino Niagara as economic drivers for almost 30 years. Wayne Gates, an NDP MPP, asked who gains from the change and said the region should be in the talks from day one.
Diodati said representatives of the world's largest gaming companies came to Niagara Falls over the past year to discuss opportunities. He tied casino growth to transport, including GO train expansion and Niagara District Airport.
