Ontario Bets on Casino Growth in Niagara Tourism Overhaul

Ontario has shown a new tourism strategy for Niagara Falls that puts casino growth at the heart of the region’s next growth stage. The Destination Niagara Strategy lays out a plan worth billions to boost visitor numbers while beefing up gaming, entertainment, and hospitality linked to the casino industry.

Province Considers Expanding Casinos to Boost Niagara Visitor Numbers

A key part of the plan aims to improve and maybe expand land-based casino operations in Niagara Falls. The province sees gaming as a strong draw for year-round tourism, able to bring in big-spending visitors and make them stay longer. By adding more casino space and upgrading game options, the government thinks the area can pull in new hotels, big-name shows, and fancy restaurants to go with what is already there.

Right now, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment holds an exclusive deal to run the two casinos in Niagara Falls. This agreement lasts until 2040. However, the province has hinted it might take another look at this setup. The goal would be to check out the possibility of a more competitive market that could support extra “world-class” casino resorts. Making any changes would mean talks and tweaking regulations. However, officials have made it clear – they are open to the idea of expanding gaming.

The casino push is part of a bigger plan to boost Niagara’s tourism impact. The province wants to see visitor numbers grow from about 13 million a year to around 25 million, with gambling playing a big role in this increase. Officials think that hitting this target could add billions to Ontario’s economy each year and create lots of jobs in gambling, hospitality, and entertainment.

Province Plans Casino Resorts and Attractions to Boost Niagara Tourism

Beyond the casino floor, the strategy aims to create a resort-style ecosystem around gaming venues. Officials are thinking about adding new hotels, big entertainment attractions, and better ways to get to Niagara Falls for people from home and abroad. They want to upgrade nearby roads, trains, and airports to handle more visitors and make it easier to reach casino resorts.

Government leaders stress that they want to make Niagara a place people visit all year round, not just for quick sightseeing trips. The province hopes to give people more reasons to stay longer and come back more often by adding more casino games along with things like theme parks, places to enjoy the views, and spots to experience local culture.

Tourism brings in about $3 billion each year to the Niagara area. The province sees casino growth as a way to safeguard and boost this key money-maker. If things go as hoped, Niagara Falls might turn into one of the top gaming and entertainment spots in North America. This could change how people see the city, making it known for more than just its famous waterfalls.