Canada's Most Extensive Resort, Great Canadian Casino Toronto, Set to Debut this Summer
Toronto's Biggest Gaming and Entertainment Resort Set to Debut this Summer
Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE) disclosed on Wednesday that their upcoming $1 billion casino venture, dubbed Great Canadian Casino Toronto, will be unveiled in Toronto this summer.
The expansive casino resort, spanning 33 acres, is being built adjacent to the Woodbine Racetrack in the Etobicoke district. Its features include a contemporary Vegas-style casino, a 400-room hotel, a 5,000-capacity live entertainment venue, and a variety of on-site dining options.
The current Casino Woodbine will carry on undisturbed until the new establishment officially opens its doors.
Matthew Anfinson, GCE CEO, expressed hope that the new resort will establish a new benchmark for gaming, live entertainment, dining, and accommodation experiences in Canada.
Anfinson hinted that more details regarding the new casino's features and grand opening will surface in the upcoming weeks.
Toronto's Gaming Transformation
GCE, formerly known as Great Canadian Gaming Corp., is the leading casino operator in Ontario, the country's most densely populated province. Since September 2011, it has been under the ownership of the US private equity giant, Apollo Global.
GCE has been spearheading recent extensive gaming expansions in the area. The $500 million Pickering Casino in Pickering town, approximately a 40-minute drive away, commenced operations in July 2021. GCE launched the adjoining hotel in January of this year.
The Pickering Casino was the first casino to open in Toronto since 2005. It serves as the centerpiece of the extensive new multibillion-dollar entertainment district, Durham Live, which encompasses a year-round indoor waterpark, a 16,000-seat amphitheater, cinemas, a film studio, three luxury hotels, restaurants, and a shopping mall.
In a separate announcement this week, GCE disclosed that the Pickering Casino's 2,500-seat arena will launch on April 26 with a special performance by acclaimed Canadian soft rock artist, Bryan Adams.
No Threat to RaceTrack
While gaming at the current Casino Woodbine generates roughly $16 million annually for the city, the new development is projected to contribute between $26 million and $31 million annually. These estimates stem from 2018 predictions, when city officials approved the project.
The new casino resort complex won't replace the racecourse, which has been operational since 1956 and is under a different ownership than the casino.
Recently, Woodbine Entertainment unveiled plans to convert part of the racetrack into an 8,000-seat soccer stadium and training facility, potentially serving as the home ground for Canadian Premier League team York Utd.
