Construction of Gateway Casino and Entertainment’s Starlight Casino in southwest Ontario will soon be under way. The $75 million property, which has been in the planning stages for several years and was relocated from its original development site, is scheduled to open in 2021. The site is now being cleared and crews will break ground on the project by the end of the month, according to the London Free Press.
“I am so happy for all of London this is going forward and that Gateway had faith to stick it out for London,” said Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen. “This is going to be very positive for the city. I think Londoners will be very pleased with the outcome.”
Starlight will employ about 1,000 people and is expected to generate $7 million in revenue for the city—$2.5 million from taxes and $4.5 million from the Ontario and Lottery Gaming Corp. The 10,000-square-meter (107,000-square-foot) operation will include about 900 slot machines and 40 table games.
“London is our most ambitious site,” said Gateway spokesperson Rob Mitchell. “It has always been a priority. It is the home of our Ontario operation. It is a very ambitious investment. It will have the glitz and glamour of a vintage Vegas casino, the same excitement and atmosphere.”
Gateway currently operates a casino in the city’s Western Fair District, and is adding table games including blackjack, baccarat, Mississippi stud and high-card flush at the property, which also has 750 slot machines. he Western Fair casino will close when the Starlight opens.
The British Columbia-based gaming giant also owns the Cascades Casino in Chatham, which opened in summer 2019, operates the Starlight Casino in Point Edward, and is planning to overhaul the Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, adding slot machines to horse racing at the facility.
