Canada’s largest gaming company, Gateway Casinos & Gaming Limited, recently announced a million renovation at Point Edward Casino, one of the six Southwestern Ontario, Canada gaming properties it purchased from the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation in June.
General Manager Karen Richards said construction work will start in August and be completed in four stages. The casino will remain open during the yearlong project.
Point Edward, which overlooks the St. Clair River, has not been upgraded since 2009. “Customers will see a marked difference. There’s going to be a different ambience, a flow to the gaming floor and more dining options,” Richards said. Any hint of the original underwater theme will be gone, she added.
The changes will include removing walls separating the main entrance from the gaming floor, to allow in more natural light. Currently, the casino’s single dining option, the Getaway Restaurant, is accessible only by walking through the gaming floor, making it off limits to anyone under age 19. However, Richards said, the new Match Eatery & Public House also will have an outside entrance, plus patio dining with a view. The Getaway will be converted into a buffet. In addition, the gaming floor’s center bar will be enlarged and offer live entertainment.
On the gaming floor, slots will be increased to a total of 500 and four new table games will raise the total to 25.
Gateway has four brands that cover their 26 casinos across the country. Richards said, “When Gateway’s CEO Tony Santo toured this casino, he said it was natural to brand us a Starlight property.” She explained as Gateway’s third Starlight property, Point Edward will have an urban, contemporary atmosphere, with generous natural light and modern flooring and fixtures.
