The look and feel of Las Vegas will be making its way to Niagara Falls, Ontario, through the Destination Niagara Strategy, per an announcement by Premier Doug Ford.
The multi-billion-dollar plan is aimed at attracting 25 million annual visitors to Niagara, doubling the number of visitors and boosting spending to generate $3 billion for the region every year, he said. That includes the development of several major casino resorts in order to provide several entertainment options for visitors.
Key takeaways from Ford's announcement are:
- Elevate Niagara's casino and gaming experience through the development of new, large casinos.
- Boost local arts and culture.
- Improve region's transportation network.
- Develop new and exciting attractions and visitor experiences to encourage longer stays and attract new visitors.
"We're looking to grow Niagara's gaming market, one of the options being explored is the potential development of multiple new world-class casinos to provide more options for visitors, encourage the development of hotels, entertainment venues and restaurants," Ford said.
Currently, there are three casinos in the Niagara Falls area – Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara on the Ontario side, and Seneca Niagara Resort on the New York side. Additional casinos could be a welcome sight for those looking to gamble at new Ontario casinos.
I visited Casino Niagara in my one and only visit to Niagara Falls, and it wasn't much to write home about. However, if there were several "Las Vegas-style" resorts in the region, I could see the appeal of an extended stay in the region.
It'll be interesting to see what casino operators will make their way to Niagara. Mohegan Gaming operates Casino Niagara and the Fallsview Casino Resort while Seneca Gaming operates Seneca Niagara. Who knows which of the major players will make their way north of the border, but I expect we'd see one or two Las Vegas casino operators opening a casino in Niagara Falls.
