Ontario is moving to open the Niagara Region to more casino operators after the provincial government reached an agreement with MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. to end its existing exclusivity rights, a move Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati welcomed as a chance to increase competition and attract investment.
MGE will give up its exclusive rights while continuing to operate Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) will launch a procurement process later this year to identify potential new casino operators.
Diodati, who has long advocated for greater competition in Niagara’s gaming market, said additional casinos could help drive investment in tourism, hospitality and entertainment.
“That was a nice consolation prize, but what we really wanted was competition — make it a competitive market,” Diodati told the Niagara Falls Review, referring to the CAD 130 million ($93.5 million) OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort that opened in 2022.
“Monopolies don’t serve the public — they just create fat cats. Every other industry is market driven and it forces you to give good customer service.”
Diodati said Niagara Falls would “never” be Las Vegas, but argued that additional casinos could support more attractions.
“We’re going to get more spas. We’re going to get more restaurants. Some nicer hotels,” the mayor stated. “We haven’t had a hotel built in 18 years in Niagara Falls. It’s going to create thousands of new, good-paying jobs.”
The move is part of Premier Doug Ford’s Destination Niagara strategy, announced in December, which aims to double the number of visitors to the region through new casinos, attractions, an expanded airport and other investments.
Ontario’s interim Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Doug Downey called the agreement a “major milestone” in the strategy.
“Niagara has long been one of Ontario’s premier tourism destinations, and we’re working to unlock its full potential and attract more visitors and investment for decades to come,” Downey said.
OLG President Duncan Hannay said the agreement could help realise the full potential of Niagara’s casino business and its wider economic benefits.
“We are excited about what the future could hold as we work together to help realize the full potential of Niagara’s casino business and the economic benefits that flow from it,” Hannay said.
Niagara Casinos President Richard Taylor said Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara had been “economic drivers” for almost 30 years and welcomed further development.
“We are proud to be part of the Niagara community and are committed to the future growth of the area,” Taylor said.
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates, however, raised concerns about who would benefit from the changes and called for the region to be involved in the process.
“Obviously, the decisions that I worry about are what’s the cost, who benefits in Niagara?” Gates said. “That’s why, to me, we need Niagara to be in the room for these discussions from Day 1.”
Diodati said representatives from some of the world’s largest gaming companies had visited Niagara Falls over the past year to discuss potential opportunities.
“They know Niagara Falls is a big brand — one of the most famous brands in the world,” he said.
The mayor also linked casino development to improved transportation, including more GO train service and an expansion of Niagara District Airport.
“It’s going to bring so many benefits to the residents of Niagara in so many meaningful ways,” Diodati said.