Ontario has opened applications for up to three new casino operators in the Niagara Region, each required to invest at least C$1.5 billion and pay a C$100 million entrance fee.
The Ontario government and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) launched the Call for Investment on October 28, 2026, as part of the province’s Destination Niagara Strategy.
Officials expect the initiative to attract more than C$3 billion in direct gaming investment and support over 10,000 construction jobs.
Interested operators have until December 3, 2026, to respond to the first phase of the procurement process.
The procurement process aims to introduce up to three additional operators into Niagara’s land-based casino market, creating what Ontario describes as its first competitive market of this kind.
Each successful applicant must commit at least C$1.5 billion to developing an integrated casino resort and pay a C$100 million entrance fee.
Selected operators are expected to receive initial 30-year operating agreements.
Ontario also plans to introduce a 9.75% gaming tax rate for Niagara operators, alongside a regulatory framework intended to attract major international casino companies while maintaining consumer protections.
The proposed developments would combine casino gaming with broader resort facilities, potentially including accommodation, entertainment and other tourism attractions.
The government estimates the initiative will generate more than C$600 million in additional private-sector investment across other Destination Niagara projects over the next 20 years.
These investment and employment figures are government projections, not confirmed outcomes.
The expansion follows an August 13 agreement between OLG and MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc., a Mohegan subsidiary that operates the region’s existing casinos.
Under the agreement, MGE suspended its exclusive rights to the Niagara land-based gaming market, allowing additional operators to compete.
The arrangement changes a market structure in which a single service provider operates both Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.
Ontario expects the new C$100 million entrance fees and additional economic activity to offset potential provincial revenue losses associated with changes to MGE’s exclusivity arrangements.
The financial terms of the agreement between OLG and MGE have not been publicly disclosed.
Niagara already represents an important part of Ontario’s casino industry. According to the province, its casinos attract more than five million visitors annually and generate over C$500 million in gaming revenue.
Since 1996, OLG has also provided more than C$256 million to the City of Niagara Falls for hosting its two existing casino properties.
The new gaming investment program is one component of Ontario’s broader Destination Niagara Strategy, which aims to increase tourism and encourage longer visitor stays.
The province wants to more than double annual tourism to over 25 million visitors and generate an additional C$3 billion in annual GDP.
Its wider strategy also targets approximately 46,500 permanent jobs across tourism, entertainment and related industries.
Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Zee Hamid said the casino expansion would help attract investment and support the region’s development as a year-round destination.
The strategy extends beyond gambling, with initiatives involving transportation infrastructure, new attractions and hospitality developments.
For example, Ontario announced nearly C$10 million in July 2026 to support design work for improvements at Niagara District Airport.
The government hopes that better transportation connections and additional entertainment options will encourage visitors to spend more time in the region.
Although the province has emphasized the potential economic benefits, some Niagara representatives have questioned how additional casinos could affect the region.
Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates has supported investment and employment opportunities but raised concerns about existing casino job losses and declining gaming revenue.
He has also questioned whether increased tourism could place additional pressure on local infrastructure and health services.
Niagara Falls Mayor Lori Lococo has called for responsible growth and greater community involvement in decisions affecting the region.
These concerns suggest that the expansion’s success may depend on more than attracting casino developers.
New resorts could increase competition and tourism spending, but their effect on existing casino employment and local services remains uncertain.
The government’s investment targets also depend on attracting qualified operators willing to make substantial financial commitments.
The Call for Investment will proceed through a two-stage procurement process.
The first phase invites experienced casino operators to express interest in developing and operating integrated resorts in Niagara.
Shortlisted applicants will then advance to a competitive stage requiring more detailed development proposals.
OLG has appointed an independent Fairness Monitor to provide oversight and advice throughout the procurement.
Initial submissions are due December 3, 2026, through the MERX procurement platform.
Ontario has also indicated that further operators could enter the market after an initial 10-year period, depending on tourism growth, market conditions and operator performance.
No successful applicants have been announced.
The initiative could reshape Niagara’s casino market by introducing competition where a single operator currently manages the region’s two major properties. However, the scale of the eventual investment will depend on the proposals received and the projects that ultimately proceed.
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