November 9, 2022 at 1:24 pm
After years of discussions about where and when the new London gambling business might open, Gateway Casinos has decided to stay put.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gateway confirmed it had signed a new lease in the Western Fair District and would have plans to increase its footprint there in the future.
“We will also rebrand the property with one of Gateway’s proprietary casino brands. We look forward to sharing more exciting details about these plans in the coming months,” said Grant Darling, Senior Vice President of Operations at Gateway.
Gateway had explored moving operations to a site on Wonderland Road, but that was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“At the same time, we continue to thank Western Fair for its continued collaboration and partnership with our current business and our planning efforts for future expansion in the fairgrounds,” Darling said.
A spokesman for Gateway Casinos could not confirm the length of the lease, or what the construction plan might include.
Gateway’s 2018 expansion plan for the Expo West included a $140 million casino, hotel and restaurant complex that would feature as many as 1,200 slot machines and 46 gaming tables. Gateway said it would create nearly 1,000 jobs.
However, the City of London, Western Fair District and Gateway were unable to agree on the terms, which is when the Wonderland site came into focus.
Gateway operates 27 casinos in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.