Canadian gaming and entertainment operator Gateway Casinos is doubling down on its location at the Western Fair District in London, Ontario. Construction has now begun on a CAD 50+ million ($36.6 million) overhaul of Gateway Casinos London, which will see the gaming floor expanded from 70,000 to 84,000 square feet.
The property’s modernization plan is set to renovate the entire facility into what officials call a modern gaming and dining experience. The casino expects the renovation to finish in late 2025 and about 100 new jobs to be added as a result.
“An expanded gaming floor, additional tables, adding two great new restaurants, our Match Eatery and Public House signature brand, as well as our Chow Lucky Noodle House,” said General Manager Darcy Romanin when asked what the new project will encompass.
Specifically, Match Eatery and Public House will be separated from the casino floor to allow diners of all ages, reports CTV News London. It will also feature a heated patio and a performance stage featuring local musicians.
The project will also see an expanded gaming floor featuring 891 slot machines and 18 live gaming tables, wrapped around a new centralized bar. Meanwhile, the exterior will be revamped to feature the “Cascades” brand and a new centralized entrance.
Coun. Susan Stevenson welcomed the reinvestment in what’s becoming the Old East Village’s entertainment district. “Most importantly, we want to be a regional destination. We’ve already got what’s happening at 100 Kellogg [Lane]. This is a perfect next step,” Stevenson told CTV News.
The Western Fair District almost lost the casino to a vacant property on Wonderland Road South a few years ago. However, Gateway’s decision to stay put secures another long-term tenant on the city-owned property.
“The development of the Cascades Casino at Western Fair District will be great for London, customers will benefit from new and expanded entertainment and food experiences,” Reg Ash, CEO of Western Fair District, told the cited source. “Everyone will benefit from the enhanced economic impact for London and region through jobs and visitors to our city.”
While the property will undergo extensive work as part of its update, Romanin said construction activities should go mostly unnoticed by casino customers. The project will take about twenty-seven months to complete, but Gateway Casinos divided that into five phases to not impact the customers visiting the gaming floor.