When spring returns, it will be a season of change for the Slots at Dresden Raceway. 
The OLG has announced BC-based Gateway Casinos and Entertainment will be taking over the day to day operations.
OLG Spokesperson Tony Bitonti says there’s a long term agreement in place, and the Gateway won’t be able to make unilateral changes to service.
“We have a contract with them for 20 years, so they will have to maintain those facilities for the foreseeable future,” Bitoni says. “But if they feel that there is some better opportunities for consolidation or relocation of some facilities, they have to develop a business case for that.”
Bitonti says he can’t predict the future, but employees have guaranteed employment for the next year.
“Once they do take over, their immediate focus will be on the running of the day-to-day operations,” Bitoni says. “OLG is requiring Gateway to retain unionized and non-unionized employees for not less than 12 months.”
Bitoni says Gateway will likely change the name of the facility, as well as branding and uniforms for staff.
Gateway will also run casinos and slots in London, Clinton, Hanover, Woodstock, Point Edward, Thunder Bay, Sault St. Marie and Sudbury.
Meantime the municipality has released an official statement on the slots’ new ownership.
Mayor Randy Hope says he looks forward to working with the new service provider once the deal is complete.
Chatham-Kent receives as much as $900,000 annually from the operation in host community gaming revenue.
About 100 full and part time employees work at the Dresden Slots.