Ontario has opened a procurement designed to bring as many as three new land-based casino operators to Niagara, seeking more than C$3 billion in direct gaming investment and C$600 million in additional private-sector investment over 20 years.
The Call for Investment, announced Oct. 28 by the provincial government and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, is the first phase of the Destination Niagara Strategy. The province projects that the gaming expansion will create more than 10,000 construction jobs and establish Ontario’s first competitive land-based gaming market.
The initial process asks experienced gaming operators to express interest. Shortlisted companies may then submit detailed proposals for integrated casino developments, with the province signalling it wants large projects combining casinos with hotels, attractions, cinemas and live theatre.
Each successful new operator will be required to invest at least C$1.5 billion and pay a C$100 million entrance fee. Ontario will apply a standardized 9.75% gaming tax rate to Niagara operators. The entrance fee is intended to offset provincial revenue losses arising from changes to MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc.’s former exclusivity rights.
The market will initially admit no more than three new operators for a fixed 10-year term. Any subsequent expansion would be assessed against tourism indicators and operator performance.
As we reported in August, OLG’s agreement with MGE ended the company’s exclusive rights in the region while allowing it to retain Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. MGE, a division of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, has operated the two Niagara Falls properties since 2019 under a 21-year OLG contract.
The investment drive forms part of a wider tourism strategy announced in the 2025 Ontario Budget and Fall Economic Statement. The plan aims to lift annual visitation from more than 13 million to more than 25 million, generate C$3 billion a year for Ontario’s GDP and create roughly 46,500 permanent jobs. Its gaming pillar is meant to attract private capital for new visitor experiences without government funding.
Niagara’s existing casinos already draw more than five million visitors annually and generate more than C$500 million in yearly gaming revenue. OLG has provided more than C$256 million to the City of Niagara Falls from the two casino properties since 1996.
A fairness monitor has been appointed for the procurement. The expansion has also prompted calls for public consultation: mayor-elect Lori Lococo said residents should be heard on both the benefits and downsides, while NDP MPP Wayne Gates said he supported good-paying jobs but had serious questions about the plan. Gates said about 1,000 jobs had been lost at Niagara’s land-based casinos since Ontario launched its regulated online gaming market in April 2022.
Operators have until Dec. 3 to respond to the first procurement phase.
