The soft opening of the Playtime Casino Hanover in Ontario is planned for March 19, says Gateway Casinos, which is spending $18 million on renovations.
The expansion is being housed within the building that was planned to be the banquet facility for the Hanover Raceway, which ceased construction in 2011 and has sat unused ever since. The expansion within the partially vacant structure included doubling the size of the original gaming floor to 32,672 square feet plus the addition of Gateway’s signature Match Eatery and Public House and the Buffet. These family oriented restaurants, each with separate kitchens, are located so that diners don’t have to pass through the gaming area to get to them.
Match will offer live entertainment, including local talent and host live broadcasts of pay per view events in the sports bar.
Gateway is leasing the land and structure from the Hanover, Bentinck and Brant Agricultural Society.
Gateway President and CEO Tony Santo recently toured the new facility and said it would be a much improved property over what has operated there, which he characterized as a “slots in a box.” He added, “It’s more than just slot machines.”
Playtime is a brand of Gateway, which has 26 casinos, including 11 in Ontario. The casino will have 299 slot machines and eight gaming tables and will employ 170, which is more than double its current staff. A grand opening will be held in April.
