Caesars Windsor, Ontario's first casino, marks 30th anniversary milestone

The Casino Windsor marks its 30th anniversary this year, having first opened its doors to the public on May 17, 1994. Initially housed in the renovated Art Gallery of Windsor, it was the first casino in Ontario and the first in Canada operated through a public-private partnership. The opening day saw long lines of eager patrons.

The introduction of casino gaming to Ontario was spearheaded by former NDP MPP Dave Cooke, who served as municipal affairs minister under Premier Bob Rae’s NDP provincial government. In 1992, the treasury board and cabinet considered the possibility of casinos in Ontario.

"At that point it was rejected because the majority did not want to have casinos in Ontario," Cooke recalled. However, Cooke managed to persuade several ministers to support the idea, leading to the decision to open a single casino in Windsor.

The effort to bring the casino to Windsor saw significant contributions from local leaders, including the late Larry Bauer, former CAW Local 444 president. His successor, Ken Lewenza, noted: "The union certification vote ended up being 98 percent in favour of joining Local 444." 

Due to its popularity, the province introduced the Northern Belle casino boat in 1995 to accommodate demand. By 1998, a permanent Casino Windsor was established on Riverside Drive, later expanding in 2008 with the addition of a new hotel tower, the Colosseum entertainment venue, ballrooms, and a rebranding as Caesars Windsor.

At its peak, the casino employed about 3,500 people, though current employment stands at 2,000 according to Suzanne Tomkins, manager of public relations and communications.

Tomkins highlighted the casino’s community involvement, noting: "We just recently celebrated our hero days of action where we had two full days with our employee heroes going out and volunteering with over six organizations. Everything from serving meals to packing food hampers and working in food banks."

Over the years, the casino has donated $16 million to local charities and organizations and generated substantial revenue for both the province and the city, contributing $92,317,774 to Windsor.

The casino's customer base, comprising both Canadian and American visitors, is recovering post-pandemic, said Tomkins. To adapt to changing trends, Caesars Windsor has embraced online gambling through a dedicated app and opened a sportsbook in 2023. A 30th-anniversary mural featuring employee photos has also been installed.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is currently selecting a new operator for the casino, though neither Caesars Windsor nor the OLG have confirmed if Caesars has applied to renew its contract.

OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti remarked: "We continue to work through the current Request for Proposal (RFP) phase and the pre-qualified proponents work on completing their bids for the opportunity in Windsor." The timeline for a final selection remains undisclosed.