Great Canadian Gaming, the new owner of Thousand Islands casino in Gananoque, assured local businesspeople that the gambling venue would not be banished.
Rod Baker, CEO of the gambling operator which recently acquired a controlling interest in the casino, said that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has given them the exclusive right to operate it for 20 years and a possibility for an additional extension and that they are there to stay for as long as they can.
Mr. Baker, together with five other Great Canadian executives and two OLG officials, attended a Chamber of Commerce breakfast. They met about 100 local business leaders and politicians and informed them about their plans for the casino. Mr. Baker told community that they are really excited to be part of it.
Local businesspeople commented that there was a “massive, collective sigh of relief” in the area after Great Canadian and the OLG announced that the gambling venue would stay in Gananoque and would not be moved to Kingston.
Gord Brown, a local MP, said that the casino will likely thrive due to the low gasoline prices in combination with the low dollar. And here it is important to note that it was exactly the law dollar and Gananoque’s proximity to the U.S. border that resulted in the construction of the casino in the town and not anywhere else. Thousand Islands was established back in 2002.
Great Canadian has recently won the right to run the casinos in Ontario’s East Gaming Bundle. Thus, the gambling operator has taken charge of Thousand Islands Casino in Gananoque, the Slots at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville, and is expected to build a new casino in Belleville. The company paid C$50.4 million for the right to operate the aforementioned venues.
Great Canadian had formerly said that it would invest about C$13 million in renovating Thousand Islands Casino. Plans for its potential expansion had also been revealed. However, the company said earlier this month that its top priority now is the construction of the Belleville facility. The gambling operator plans to spend more than C$40 million on its establishment. Efforts are expected to be put in the improvement of the Slots at Kawartha Downs, as well.
