Gateway’s Central Gaming Bundle to Take Shape in 2019

Bright future for Gateway Casinos of Ontario as Central Gaming Bundle plans develop.

Over the summer, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment won an $89 million bid to control Ontario’s Central Gaming Bundle. The company won the managerial rights to three gambling destinations, including the OLG Slots at Georgian Downs (since rebranded Gateway Casino Innisfil), Casino Rama Resort, and a future gaming site to be located in Wasaga Beach (pending final approvals).

As the old saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Gateway is undertaking a major project here that’s already seen renovations begun at the Innisfil site, and, if word around the water cooler is accurate, there may be a storm brewing in Rama, where there’s talk of a possible strike in January. At least things are looking good in Wasaga Beach, where Gateway has big plans for a future casino.

Gateway Casinos of Ontario Looking Ahead to 2019

To date, the most progress has been seen in Innisfil, where Gateway Casinos is in the process of renovating the former OLG Slots at Georgian Downs. This particular property is a big money-maker for the province, being home to about 950 slot machines and an assortment of electronic table games. Now, following Gateway’s acquisition and modernization, players will have access to an additional 26 table games and more contemporary features.

Casino Rama, located on the tribal lands of the Chippewa of Rama First Nations, is another boon for the economy, but could become a problem child for its new managing partners. The leasing agreement is already a complicated one. Owned by the tribe, the casino is sub-leased to provincial regulators, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG), who in turn sub-sub-leases it to Gateway Casinos. Needless to say, if there’s need for change, the decision making process can become painfully slow.

Add to this a probable union strike, and Gateway has its work cut out for them. Unifor Local 1090 already has three meetings scheduled for this week to discuss a multitude of improvements for employees. If past history has taught us anything, it’s that resolutions don’t often come before the picket lines.

Adding Wasaga Beach Casino to Central Gaming Bundle

Finally, things are looking way up in Wasaga Beach, where Mayor Brian Smith is touting the significance of a new casino in their great city. The casino, which received municipal approval in October, is expected to bring 400 jobs to the area while attracting players from far and wide to partake in its 300 slot machines and up to 120 seats worth of gaming tables.

“I am very happy to announce that Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd. has chosen our great town for the location of the newest Casino,” said Mayor Smith back in October. “This is great news for Wasaga Beach. It will bring hundreds of well paying jobs & millions of dollars in revenue. Onward and upward Wasaga.”

According to sources, there are as many as five locations in queue that could become the future home of what will no doubt become, Gateway Casinos Wasaga Beach. This is sure to be the largest development at the Gateway Casinos of Ontario in the coming year.