The announcement of the construction of a brand-new mega-casino in the Greater Toronto Area has drawn a number of positive comments. However, there are some negative comments as well, especially coming from the Mississauga tribe.
According to the spokesperson of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN), the tribe is outraged by the lack of respect shown by the Ontario Gaming Corporation (OLG). The province’s officials gave the green light to the new casino establishment without even consulting the First Nation to see how the new project is going to affect their gaming business.
First Nation’s Dissatisfaction with New Mega-Casino in Toronto
The Mississaugas have been living on the shores of Lake Scugog for centuries, and it’s the 21st century when the First Nation has seen a massive economic boost. One of the main reasons behind it was the success of the Mississauga Tribe-owned casino Great Blue Heron (GBH).
Located in the northeastern portion of the Great Toronto Area called Port Perry, the casino has been the engine moving the local economy forward. Literally thousands of people are either directly or indirectly profiting from the success of this gaming establishment.
The casino has been around since 1997, but from 2018 to 2021, it went through a huge renovation process. Since then, it’s been in the business for about a year and a half, generating great revenue, but that could come to an end in 2023. The First Nation representatives believe that the new mega-casino that’s meant to open in summer could ruin their business.
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto to Open in Summer
There’s a new mega-casino resort that’s under construction in Toronto. Owned by the same company that operates Great Blue Heron, the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is going to be one of Canada’s biggest gaming establishments after it opens in summer.
Situated adjacent to Casino Woodbine at Woodbine Racetrack, the construction of the new casino resort will cost its parent company over $1 billion in total.
When it launches, the casino will feature nearly 5,000 slots, along with almost 150 table games. Apart from gambling, Great Canadian is also meant to offer other means of entertainment to the visitors – there’s a live entertainment venue on its premises, along with eight restaurants, and several bars.
Once it opens, Great Canadian will absorb the nearby Casino Woodbine, practically making itself the largest casino resort in this part of North America.
It’s bound to draw visitors from all around Ontario, but also from other Canadian provinces, as well as the US. Great Blue Heron’s owners believe that the new venue could ruin their business, despite the fact that the two casinos are nearly 60 miles away from each other.
