Woodbine Entertainment Group, the gaming company behind Mohawk Racetrack in Milton, Ontario, said that executives have been lobbying for the venue’s expansion into a full-scale casino. Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson has previously told media that Milton residents had approved the idea for adding more gambling options at the existing slots parlor at the racetrack, which now features 850 gaming machines.
Earlier this year, the Toronto City Council approved the establishment of a fully-fledged casino at the city’s Woodbine Racetrack. The expansion is to include the addition of 2,000 gaming machines and 300 table games. Currently, the racetrack features 3,000 slot machines. The new casino would be operated by an outside company, which is to be selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Mr. Lawson told local media that they would like to duplicate that same idea at the Mohawk property. The OLG has not commented on the Milton racetrack’s proposed expansion into a full-scale casino yet. The Woodbine Entertainment executive expressed optimism that their plan would eventually be materialized.
According to Mr. Lawson, one of the main challenges before OLG’s planned modernization of gaming in the province has been the fact that most of the municipalities have not been supportive of the plan. However, the executive noted that Mohawk’s expansion is likely to be successful as it has been backed by Milton residents and officials.
The addition of a casino at the racetrack would be crucial to Woodbine making certain improvements to the harness racing facility. Currently, racing events at Mohawk are taking place from April through October. Woodbine Racetrack hosts harness racing the rest of the months. If the expansion into a full-scale casino is completed, harness racing may be moved year-round at Mohawk. And if this happens, the Woodbine Group may establish a second turf track at Woodbine Racetrack.
Commenting on the addition of a second track, Mr. Lawson said that Woodbine Entertainment will first have to reach a long-term partnership agreement with the OLG, under which the two parties are to share the costs related to running two harness racing operations.
Mr. Lawson also revealed that said that the OLG has reduced the list of operators that had expressed interest in running the new casino at Woodbine Racetrack to seven. Although the gambling company does not receive direct revenue from the slot machines at the racetrack, it is still paid certain amounts of money for leasing the gaming floor to the OLG.
