Day-to-day operation of Point Edward's casino was officially turned over to Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited effective Tuesday.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has signed a 20-year agreement with Gateway for the assets of the Southwest Gaming Bundle that includes the village's waterfront casino, and the OLG Slots at Western Fair and the Clinton, Dresden, Hanover and Woodstock raceways.
Under the agreement, Gateway is required to guarantee all 325 local jobs for at least one year.
The Burnaby BC-based company says it plans to invest $200-million in southwestern Ontario to improve customer experience.
Carrie Kormos, senior vice president of marketing and communications, says they're going to be making a substantial investment in the local economies where Gateway now operates.
"Now the work we're really going to be turning our minds to is finalizing those development plans for the communities including Point Edward to determine which brand makes sense, what experiences, what amenities make sense in each one of those communities," says Kormos. "Over the next year or two, as we redevelop the properties and invest that 200-million dollars, we'll be switching the brand to one of our signature brands which are Playtime, Cascades, Starlight and Grand Villa."
Kormos says the interim brand will be Gateway Casinos.
"We have a plan that we're really excited about to welcome customers in the early going," she says. "There'll be more prizes, more promotions, and lots of exciting giveaways and entertainment."
Late last year Gateway was also named service provider for OLG's North Bundle that includes ownership of the casinos in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
Operating in British Columbia, Edmonton and southwestern Ontario, Gateway has over 5,200 employees and operates 23 gaming properties with 248 tables, over 8,400 slots, 54 restaurants and bars and 272 hotel rooms.
-With files from Josh Boyce