The company who operates the Dresden Slots wouldn’t go into specifics, but a North Kent Councillor believes the company is moving the gaming facility to Chatham.
Rob Mitchell, director of communications and public affairs in eastern Canada for Gateway Casinos, told the Sydenham Current the Slots will be operating in Dresden until 2020.
“We are are going to be operating the Slots in Dresden for the foreseeable future,” he said, adding that he is not in the position to provide any further details at this time.
North Kent Coun. Joe Faas says he has received information that the Slots are definitely moving.
“I’m not too sure when, I’m not too sure where they are going… in Chatham somewhere,” Faas said.
“Apparently there are some zoning issues that need to be addressed and some formalities that need to take place yet. So, I don’t look for it happening in the next year or so, but probably within a couple of years it probably will be gone.”
Faas said he is disappointed by the pending move.
“My biggest concern is the Dresden Raceway and the connection to the Slots,” Faas said.
“It also brings people through Dresden… and the people not coming to Dresden, it may effect some of the businesses downtown… restaurants, gas stations.”
Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope told the Sydenham Current the decision lies with Gateway Casinos.
“They’re the provider, they’re the owner,” he said.
“I’m basing it on what I heard, they did talk to the trade union and the trade union talked about it in their collective bargaining process about re-location, that there is intent… but intent and actual are two different things. They are looking at different market opportunities and a few other things. They still have to do their due diligence. I’m sure when they make that final decision, they’ll let us know.”
Hope said there are pros and cons to a possible move of the Slots from Dresden to Chatham.
“It’s like any other business, you try to get more clients in, the more clients you get the more revenue is generated, the more revenue that is generated, the more revenue goes into Municipal coffers to support what we do across Chatham-Kent,” Hope said.
“The fortunate part is, if it stays in Dresden or re-locates, it is still a huge benefit to the community of Chatham-Kent.”
Gateway Casinos has been operating the Dresden Slots since May of this year.
The Municipality recently announced that the annual contribution to the community from the operation of the OLG Slots at Dresden Raceway for the 2016-17 operating year was $700,000.
The OLG has made contributions of more than $10.2 million to the municipality since the site opened in 2001.
The funds get allocated to general revenues offsetting costs of all municipally delivered services provided to the residents across all of Chatham-Kent.
Watch for more on this story.
– Featured photo credit: Gateway Casinos
– Inset photo credit: Municipality of Chatham-Kent
