Gateway Casinos announced yesterday it will be building a new, full-service casino at the site of the old Wheels Inn in Chatham.
Gateway spokesman Rob Mitchell says what it really boils down to is infrastructure.
“The problem with Dresden is that the building was built in 1994. It was conceived at a time when gaming was new in Ontario. It doesn’t have the amenities or the facilities or the actual footprint to accommodate the kinds of entertainment that we offer that has made Gateway a distinctive brand in British Columbia and Alberta. So it’s really outlived its usefulness,” says Mitchell.
Mayor Randy Hope says he’s sorry for the future loss of the slots in Dresden, but the Chatham casino will be great for everyone.
“I do feel sorry. It (the Dresden casino) has generated revenues for the municipality, about $700,000 a year. What’s really important is that (the Chatham casino) will be a bigger facility. it will house more people, which means potentially more revenue. More revenue means the municipal share agreement comes into play which means the municipality would get more spins offs on the economy,” says Hope.
Hope says people who would normally travel to the casino in Windsor will soon be able to stay a little closer to home.