Ontario opens bidding for up to three new Niagara casino operators
The Ontario government and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) launched a Call for Investment on October 28, 2026, opening the Niagara Region’s land-based casino market to as many as three new operators. The announcement came from Niagara Falls as part of the province’s Destination Niagara Strategy.
According to the provincial news release, the call is meant to enable more than $3 billion in direct gaming investment and support over $600 million in additional private-sector investment over the next 20 years. Each new operator must commit at least $1.5 billion and pay a $100-million entrance fee.
What the Niagara call for investment requires
The procurement runs in two phases. Experienced gaming operators first submit expressions of interest, and shortlisted proponents then move to a competitive process to file detailed proposals for new integrated casino developments.
The deadline for phase-one responses was set at December 3, 2026, with the documents posted on MERX. OLG has engaged a Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice throughout the procurement.
The province also announced a gaming tax rate of 9.75 per cent for Niagara operators. The government presented it as part of a new framework meant to reduce the burden on operators and focus expansion on top-tier operators, while keeping the requirements that protect the public interest. The Globe and Mail described the rate as standardized and highly competitive with other North American jurisdictions, adding that the current rates vary by casino and are not public.
The market will initially be capped at three new operators, with further expansion possible after a 10-year fixed term, subject to tourism indicators and overall operator performance.
How the incumbent's exclusivity came to an end
The call follows an agreement announced in August 2026 between OLG and its Niagara-area service provider, which runs the region’s two existing casinos. Under that deal, the incumbent gave up its exclusivity rights within the Niagara Gaming Bundle and continues to operate both properties on OLG’s behalf.
The entrance fee is tied directly to that change. The province said the $100-million fees, together with increased economic activity, will offset any provincial revenue loss from the changes to those exclusivity rights.
In Ontario, private-sector companies manage land-based casinos under agreements with OLG, which keeps responsibility for conducting and managing gaming. The Globe and Mail reported that the incumbent has run the two Niagara Falls properties since 2019 under a 21-year contract.
The same newspaper reported that, in August, an executive of the incumbent’s parent company told analysts OLG had pledged to make up any revenue decrease at its Ontario properties caused by new casinos.
Reaction from the government and opposition
Zee Hamid, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said new gaming investment will “bring exciting attractions and experiences to the region.” The government projects the expansion will support more than 10,000 construction jobs.
Opposition members were more cautious. NDP MPP Wayne Gates, who represents Niagara Falls, told The Globe and Mail he has “serious questions about this announcement” and called for consultation with residents and protections for casino workers. Ontario Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec, his party’s tourism critic, said in a statement that “the government has never released a business case for new casinos, and it should,” pointing to declining revenue and foot traffic at casinos.
A spokesman for the minister, Scott Clark, said the process is open to qualified proponents capable of making substantial long-term investments in Niagara.
The broader Destination Niagara Strategy aims to attract 25 million annual visitors to the region. It also targets an additional $3 billion a year for Ontario’s GDP.
