Durham casino operator says province’s iGaming system could cost hundreds of local jobs, millions in revenue

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Ontario’s planned launch of an online gaming market could cost hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in Durham.

That’s according to Chuck Keeling, Executive Vice-President of Great Canadian Gaming, which operates Casino Ajax, Great Blue Heron Casino and the Pickering Casino Resort.

He says land-based casinos could see a loss of up to 30 per cent of their revenue, which in turn, would lead to job cuts and lower transfer payments to local municipalities.

“We had an independent study commissioned,” explained Keeling. “The study came back and said, under this iGaming model the provincial government is launching, [land-based casinos] could be looking at up to 30 per cent of a revenue loss.”

The province’s plan calls for the establishment of a regulated, open and competitive internet gaming market. Companies would be allowed to operate their own websites for gaming or betting.

Keeling says he supports “the intent of iGaming.”

“But the way its been structured, allowing for literally an unlimited number of online casinos to be licensed… we think there is significant risk and jeopardy for the land-based casino industry,” he continued.

He says the potential revenue loss would also hit at a time when casinos are emerging from months of pandemic shutdowns or curtailed operations.

If the province’s current model stays in place, Keeling says hundreds of people could be out of a job in Durham Region.

“If you look at a place like Pickering Casino Resort… We’re talking hundreds of jobs that we would have to look at eliminating,” he said. “This is a very serious issue.”

Between the Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax and Great Blue Heron Casino in Port Perry, Keeling thinks over 300 jobs could be cut.

Then there’s the issue of revenue loss.

Since land-based casinos make payments to their host municipalities, Keeling says a drop in revenue would also cause those payments to dip.

“In terms of the community payments, you’re talking six or seven-million dollars [lost] per year,” Keeling explained.

Those payments go to the City of Pickering, Town of Ajax and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

“We’re asking the province to take another look at this model and consider what we feel are the very real impacts to the 28 land-based casinos across the province,” said Keeling. “We think that the impact associated with this model… needs to be addressed by the provincial government.”