Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Ltd., the private operator of Southwestern Ontario gambling, announced it will move the slots operation at Dresden Raceway to Chatham, one hour from Caesars casino in Windsor. Gateway Director of Communications and Public Affairs Rob Mitchell said, “People who enjoy gaming tend to travel around and visit different facilities. We think we’ll be quite competitive. Chatham is a good market for us. It’s a good region.”
The new casino, to be built at the former Wheels Inn site, will carry Gateway’s Cascades brand. Construction is expected to begin this spring once government approvals are granted and the deal to purchase the land from Brad-Lea Meadows Ltd. of Chatham is finalized. Gateway officials said the Dresden Slots will remain open until 2020.
James Stewart, president of Unifor Local 444 which represents about 250 workers at the Dresden and Point Edward casinos, said Caesars draws people from the Chatham area but it’s not a primary customer base. “There’s always an attraction, especially around concerts and other things that are held at the Windsor casino. That’s what brings them in. Most of our patrons come from the States. Once you get into London, you’ve got Casino Rama north, and then you’ve got us as a major player south. But I think a lot of people come just for the Caesars brand.”
Brad-Lea Meadows president Dean Bradley said, “We are pleased that Gateway chose our site for the new casino. It will be good to put the vacant property to better use. This is a good news story all-round for our community.”
Gateway was selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in 2016 and took over operations at its casino facilities in northern and southwestern Ontario in May 2017. The company also operates a dozen casinos in British Columbia and Alberta.
