Ontario opens Niagara casino market to new operators
Ontario has taken a major step towards expanding its land-based casino industry after reaching an agreement that will end the long-standing exclusivity held by the operator of Niagara’s two casinos, paving the way for new gaming venues in one of Canada’s biggest tourism markets.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced that MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. (MGE) has agreed to relinquish its exclusive rights within the Niagara Gaming Bundle, allowing additional casino operators to enter the Niagara region for the first time since the current operating model was established. OLG will launch a procurement process later this year to identify potential new operators.
The agreement represents a key milestone in the Ontario government’s Destination Niagara Strategy, which aims to transform the region into a year-round tourism and entertainment hub through new attractions, infrastructure investment and expanded gaming opportunities.
Importantly, the agreement will not affect Niagara’s existing casinos. MGE will continue operating Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara on behalf of OLG while the province explores opportunities for additional gaming developments. The two properties have been operated by MGE, a Mohegan subsidiary, since 2019 under OLG’s Niagara Gaming Bundle agreement.
“Niagara has long been one of Ontario’s premier tourism destinations, and we’re working to unlock its full potential and attract more visitors and investment for decades to come,” Ontario’s Interim Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Doug Downey said.
“Our government is creating the conditions for long-term growth by building on the region’s strengths and unlocking new opportunities for businesses, workers and communities across Niagara.”
OLG President and CEO Duncan Hannay said the agreement would allow the Crown corporation and MGE to continue working together while expanding the region’s gaming sector.
“OLG and MGE are continuing our strong partnership and shared commitment to the Niagara community,” Hannay said.
“We are excited about what the future could hold as we work together to help realize the full potential of Niagara’s casino business and the economic benefits that flow from it.”
The expansion of Niagara’s gaming market forms part of the province’s broader tourism strategy, which targets 25 million annual visitors and aims to double the region’s economic impact by generating an additional CAD$3 billion in GDP each year. Alongside new casino developments, the strategy includes investments in transportation infrastructure, cultural attractions and hospitality projects designed to position Niagara as a leading international tourism destination.
Among the flagship projects already underway are the redevelopment of the historic Toronto Power Generating Station into a five-star boutique hotel, continued expansion of attractions at the Niagara Parks Power Station and further investment in Niagara Takes Flight, the immersive flying theatre that has welcomed more than 421,000 visitors since opening in 2025.
Richard Taylor, President of Niagara Casinos, welcomed the agreement despite the prospect of future competition.
“Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara have been economic drivers in the Niagara Region for almost 30 years,” Taylor said.
“We welcome economic growth including new development and working collaboratively with the OLG and the Province to support the Destination Niagara vision. Collectively, we will work to further Niagara as a premier Canadian tourism destination aligned with the strengths and potential of our region.”
No timeline has been announced for the procurement process or when any additional casino developments could begin, but the move opens the door for new operators to establish a presence in one of Canada’s busiest gaming and tourism destinations.
Ontario lawmakers would be feeling buoyed by the success of their regulated gambling industry, which has shown steady growth since its launch in 2022, and has become the benchmark for other Canadian provinces looking to regulate online casinos and sports betting sites.
