London, Ontario would soon welcome its new casino complex with well-rounded entertainment and gaming offerings available powered by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. A recently issued report gives a recommendation for rezoning permit at the proposed location on Wonderland Road South.
In the meantime, there are still local officials willing to see casino venue integration at Western Fair District, as it was in the initial plan for action. Over the past several years, casino debate in the London area managed to stir the pot and polarize the opinion on casino location.
At the very beginning stages of the conversation, Gateway Casinos was ready to bring a well-rounded casino venue to the local racetrack with years of live entertainment in the horse racing field. Such a move is projected to bring good gaming revenue down the road and potentially be of mutual benefit for both the horse people and the operator.
Western Fair District Plans Scrapped
Gaming revenue generated by the casino venue was going to fuel allocations to the racetrack and support its operation. Moreover, it was also going to attract more people to the horse races taking place on a regular basis.
However, the conversation between the parties ended up hitting a wall and this three-year delay eventually prompted the announcement of the new location.
Wonderland Road South is projected to welcome an independent casino facility with both gaming and family-friendly offerings available on site. The project is going to amount to some CA$75 million, as it was announced along with the change of plans at the end of last year.
The recommendations coming from London City planners highlight future development in the area, as it would make the area more popular. A higher number of people in the given area would spell better revenue for all businesses. In response to these recommendations, Rob Mitchell of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment stated that this attitude is a positive sign for the entire project that has taken longer than expected.
London Casino Complex Launches in 2021
At this point, a rezoning is in order. It should be pointed out that while the conversation with Western Fair District was still in progress, a rezoning application was greenlighted. Now local officials still attempt to stir the conversation in that direction, as the path of least resistance.
Councilor Anna Hopkins is among the avid supporters of this idea, continuously discussing the benefits of gaming at Western Fair District. In response to this, Mr. Mitchell made it clear that those plans have been scrapped and are going to remain that way. Upcoming weeks are projected to see more discussion on the aforementioned report.
Starlight Casino London in its new location is projected to create up to 700 new jobs and employ many locals seeking better work conditions. Some 900 slot machines would be installed once casino construction is over. In addition to those, the casino would also bring some 40 table games to London and welcome all gaming enthusiasts. Taking into account the current pace of development, official launch of operation is envisioned in 2021.
