Canada’s Largest ‘Vegas-Style’ Casino Opening Next Week

Posted on: June 15, 2023, 02:27h. 

Last updated on: June 16, 2023, 11:50h.

Craig Boswell Read More
Expertise: Legislation, Politics, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Regulation.

The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto opens for business Tuesday, June 20 at 5 p.m. Great Canadian Entertainment says the new $1 billion entertainment resort will be the largest casino in Canada and North America. 

Great Canadian Casino Resort
A rendering of the upcoming Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto The $1B casino is set to open next Tuesday. (Image: Construction Connect)

The “Vegas-style” casino sits on 33 acres, and patrons can play in 328,000 square feet of gaming space. The project has been under construction for several years, and features 328,000 square feet of gaming space, with 4800 slot machines and 145 table games. 

The resort also includes a 5,000-seat live entertainment venue and a 400-room hotel. 

We see this as an unprecedented opportunity to introduce an entirely new, world-class experience in Canada that will bring together the best in casino gaming, exceptional live entertainment, dining, and accommodation in one very special place,” said Great Canadian Entertainment CEO Matthew Anfinson in a statement 

The casino resort is expected to generate more than $500 million in economic impact in the province. 

Great Canadian Entertainment expects the new flagship property to become a destination resort for Canadians and international tourists. The gambling industry in Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, lists four of the most popular casinos, including Casino Woodbine, which is also owned by Great Canadian, and which will operate until the new state-of-the-art facility opens on June 20. 

Casino Niagra, Casino Rama Resort, and Great Blue Heron Casino are the other top casinos in the province. 

Gambling by the Numbers 

Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are among the 10 provinces that make up Canada. Each province is self-governing and regulates different types of gambling or wagering, including sports betting.  

In 2021, Canadian lawmakers repealed a law that prevented provinces from allowing single-game sports wagering. As a result, each province launched various sports betting products, and several provinces added online options. 

Ontario’s online gaming industry contributes about $1.6 billion to the province’s GDP and supports more than 12K jobs, according to a recent report by Deloitte. It became the first province with a commercially competitive online market. 

In Quebec, a half-dozen iGaming companies and at least eight other stakeholders formed the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC) in May. The idea is to work with the provincial government to modernize the iGaming regulatory framework and rules for online poker, casino gambling, and sports betting. The QOGC says it will likely use neighboring Ontario’s framework as a guide. 

Back to the Billion Dollar Opening 

The gambling industry market in Canada is estimated at $14 billion. The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, with its billion-dollar investment, intends to add significantly to that total. 

With meticulous attention to detail, state-of-the-art amenities, and a commitment to exceptional guest experiences, our landmark entertainment resort is a game-changer in Toronto,” Matthew Anfinson, CEO of Great Entertainment, stated. 

The new Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto will include a PlaySmart Centre, which provides players with gambling knowledge and tools to help build and maintain positive play habits, among other responsible gaming tools.