For nearly three decades, Caesars Entertainment has been operating a casino in Windsor, but it now finds itself in a fierce competition to retain control over one of Canada's largest gaming establishments.
According to a report from the Toronto Globe and Mail, which drew from unnamed sources, Caesars, along with Bally’s Corp. and Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, are the top contenders to oversee the Southern Ontario casino on behalf of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). An OLG spokesperson confirmed to deereplanet.com that the agency will keep the identities of the contenders confidential during the procurement phase.
The leader of the union representing employees at Caesars Windsor expressed hope that the Las Vegas-based gaming company, known for its Caesars app, will keep the management contract. He also criticized the OLG's choice to involve the casino in its broader \"modernization initiative.\"
Although Caesars Windsor was initially excluded from the modernization plans announced by OLG back in 2012, a shift occurred in July 2020. The then-president and CEO of OLG, Stephen Rigby, revealed that the property would be included in efforts to enhance the long-term competitive edge of the Windsor market, which is just across the border from three casinos in downtown Detroit that are all within two miles of Caesars.
Union Workers Support Caesars' Bid for Ontario Casino.
Around 1,600 staff members at Caesars are affiliated with Unifor Local 444, which also represents employees at several important businesses in Windsor, London, and other regions of Ontario. Local President David Cassidy mentioned to deereplanet.com that the casino is a vital part of the local gaming landscape, calling it a 'crown jewel of Windsor' and the city's second-largest employer in a community of nearly 230,000 people.Ontario online casinos Cassidy noted that relocating the casino from Caesars to a different brand could potentially cost around C$80 million.
"We prefer not to transition to a different brand,\" he added. \"We appreciate Caesars' presence as they bring top-notch entertainment to our area. It’s truly a remarkable venue, a fantastic location.\"
The agency indicated to deereplanet.com on Tuesday that a request for proposals to operate the Windsor casino was issued last October. This call for proposals was directed at companies deemed 'pre-qualified' following a selection process that concluded last May. The public agency has also engaged a 'fairness monitor' to oversee the procurement process.
Details On OLG’s Selection Process
Tony Bitonti, a spokesperson for Ontario Lottery and Gaming \"The RFP will allow OLG to choose a highly capable service provider to manage daily operations, ensuring the site’s long-term competitiveness so that it continues to deliver economic advantages to the local community and the province of Ontario,\" said Bitonti.
He pointed out that contracts for other casino operators under OLG typically last about 20 years. In August, Caesars' contract for the Windsor venue was extended until August 2025, which includes options for OLG to prolong it for an additional six to twelve months.
If a transition to a new operator occurs, employees will also be transferred. In the announcement made in 2020, OLG stated that the successful bidder must retain these employees for at least twelve months, and those represented by unions will keep the terms of their existing collective bargaining agreements.
Cassidy remarked that any new operator needs to have a solid understanding of the market dynamics, especially if another bidder wins instead of Caesars.
"The new brand must be internationally recognized,\" he said. \"It must be capable of standing up to the competition from other casinos across the river in Detroit since that is where our real competition lies. It must operate at a world-class standard.\"
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