The Woodbine Race Track, a thoroughbred and standard breed racing track with more than 60 years of history in the city of Toronto, is underway to transform itself into a large casino and hotel complex. Ontario Gaming GTA’s proposed casino expansion is expected to immediately create hundreds of jobs and bring CA$31 million a year to the city safe, but it also fuels a number of concerns, including the risk of higher rates of problem gambling.
The developer of Ontario Gaming GTA (OGGTA), an ambitious project, says the gambling and entertainment complex will benefit the community and the city budget. The company is a partnership between Great Canada Gaming Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners LP,, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced its selection as a news service provider for the GTA Gaming Bundle. As part of this bundle, the company agreed to be responsible for the expanded game operations at Woodbine Racecourse. Currently, the venue has a slot par called Woodbine Casino, which hosts over 2,500 slot machines and dozens of virtual table games and virtual poker games. 릴게임
The planned casino and entertainment complex will expand its gaming options, adding hundreds of live table games. In the report, The new gambling facility will have at least 300 live dealer tables, as well as about 5,000 electronic game locations. But the project is even more ambitious because it will have hotels, restaurants, retail stores and performance halls along with casinos. Under the plan, more than 500 new jobs will be created in construction and around 3,700 new jobs, or 4,455 in total, will be created when employed in operations by the end of 2022. Approximately 5,300 new jobs will be created in the coming years.
All this is outlined in last week’s report evaluating the 21 conditions of the city council that casino developers must meet before the project goes ahead. One of them is requiring OGGTA to save at least 40 percent of new jobs for locals and ensure that half of the newly hired employees work full-time. Another highlight of the city’s staff report is that the city should receive an additional $15 million per year from Woodbine’s earnings, and with $16 million now, the total should reach $31 million per year.
Some believe that the proposed casino should contribute more to the community
However, some groups and members of the committee argue that the city should have higher requirements when it comes to donations from gambling businesses. According to Mike Leighton, the proposed casino will not invest in the community as much as it should. He is one of many who believes the city should receive at least $40 million a year in revenue-sharing agreements. The Toronto Regional Welfare Network also said the plan would require local employees to increase to at least 60 percent. The organization also wants Woodbine to pay its employees a living wage and provide day care on the spot.
The community board of etobycock York reviewed and adopted an application for zoning and planning allowing the development of a casino complex on 555 Rexdale Boulevard. The document included a draft zoning plan application as well as an application for zoning changes to existing stand buildings and new game districts. However, approval does not yet allow the project to be built. Plans and applications will be reviewed by the city council, and if approved, the project can be carried out by authorities and other agencies to apply for additional permits.