The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation approved Hard Rock Casino Ottawa as the operator of government-sanctioned gaming in Canada’s capital last May. Now Hard Rock wants to add 14 table games to its current 21, which is the maximum allowed by law. Hard Rock and partner Rideau Carleton Raceway are building a new 0 million entertainment facility, zoned to allow up to 1,250 slot machines.
Hard Rock considers raising the table-games limit to be a minor variance under land-use rules, so it has applied to the 15-member committee of adjustment for approval, rather than taking the request to the city council. That has upset some Ottawa city council members, including Councilwoman Diane Deans. She said, “Using a sneaky backdoor approach, in my estimation, is not what they should be doing to build a healthy relationship. I think it gets them off on a bad foot with this community and this council. It leaves a bad taste the mouths of decision-makers at city hall.”
Councilman Keith Egli added, “We’re not having that open discussion that we were led to believe was going to happen.”
One concern is that the city council could monitor how the racino’s new operator would address a potential rise in problem gambling, resulting from expanded gaming options, whereas committee of adjustment decisions do not require ratification by the city council. However, if the committee believes Hard Rock’s application for additional table games is not a minor variance, Hard Rock would have to bring its application to the city council. The committee will hear public comments on Hard Rock’s application at its November 15 meeting.
As a host city for the casino, the Ottawa government will receive a portion of gaming revenue.
