Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans

Posted : admin On 7/24/2022

On Tuesday April 25th, the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) unveiled a new conceptual masterplan to redevelop Etobicoke's 684-acre Woodbine Racetrack lands. Already an established tourist destination, the racetrack located at the city limits just northeast of Toronto Pearson International Airport—tucked between Highway 27, Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 427—could become a more animated. Woodbine Entertainment Group Unveils Master Plan for The Woodbine Development Location Woodbine Racetrack is ideally located in northwest Toronto (population approx. 2.6 million) surrounded by the growing municipalities of Yo rk (population approx. 1.1 million) and Peel (population approx. “If that’s the (Woodbine) plan going forward, we wholeheartedly endorse it.” The Woodbine casino expansion and future development “will only help us to fulfill our mandate,” Boon said. Toronto will also explore ways to invest all proceeds of the city’s revenues generated by the additional Woodbine gaming into a community benefits fund.

The two companies officially took over the day-to-day operations and assets of OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and Great Blue Heron Casino through a $170 million transition and asset purchase agreement with OLG. Yesterday, the two companies laid out their casino expansion plans for Great Blue Heron Casino.

Toronto is getting a new casino. Earlier today, city council approved the much debated expansion of the Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke into a gambling wonderland with five new facilities featuring restaurants, bars, retail, a performance venue and office space.

The casino marks just one of two ambitious projects planned for the Toronto area. A sprawling new casino, hotel and waterpark is also expected to be built in nearby Pickering.

This rendering shows the scope of the new casino in Etobicoke. Image courtesy Woodbine Entertainment Group.

Gaming at Woodbine Racetrack currently brings in about $16 million in annual revenues for the city. It's predicted that once the casino is in operation, the amount could rise to between $26 million and $31 million per year.

And the major Woodbine casino item as amended is APPROVED by Toronto City Council, 26-15. Expanded gambling coming to North Etobicoke. pic.twitter.com/CtDZStSaiG

— Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) April 26, 2018

Not everyone is on board with the plans. Councillor Joe Cressy tried to put forward a motion to limit the Woodbine casino's operating hours to no more than 18 hours per day. It failed.

In 2018, in Toronto, City Council is about to approve the expansion of gambling and casino facilities in Etobicoke in order to spur economic development. This is the absolute wrong way to build a healthy and economically strong City.

Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans Floor Plans

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) April 26, 2018

Another motion sought to develop a child care centre near the casino with a stipulation that the casino operators put up as much as $5 million to make it happen. It passed.

The casino is one step closer to reality, now it's up to the province of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. This final approval is expected to be a mere formality.