The Ontario government has recently announced an agreement to terminate current exclusivity rights, potentially paving the way for the establishment of additional casinos in the Niagara Region. Premier Doug Ford unveiled the Destination Niagara initiative in December, aiming to attract a larger number of tourists to the area by introducing new casinos, a theme park, airport expansions, and more.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s interim minister of tourism, culture, and gaming confirmed that a deal has been struck with MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. This agreement allows for the inclusion of new casino operators alongside MGE, which will retain control of Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara while relinquishing its exclusivity rights.
In the coming months, OLG is scheduled to kick off a procurement process to identify potential operators for these new casinos. However, the proposal to install a second ferris wheel near Niagara Falls, part of Ford’s Destination Niagara plan, has faced significant opposition from local residents. NDP member Wayne Gates, representing Niagara Falls in the provincial parliament, highlighted the community’s concerns, echoing sentiments expressed by Mayor Jim Diodati, who deemed the ferris wheel proposal for Queen Victoria Park as unpopular and unlikely to gain support.
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