It has been reported that a proposal has been made which would see a racino featuring harness racing and VLTs come to the upstate New York border town of Alexandria. News of the proposal has some in Gananoque, Ont. worried even more for the future and viability of OLG Casino Thousand Islands.
A report by the Recorder and Times has cited the Town of Alexandria’s supervisor, Dale Hunneyman, as saying that River Isles, LLC is to looking to develop a $100 million gambling complex at the Bonnie Castle Recreation Center, located in Alexandria Bay.
The Bonnie Castle Recreation Center is located on Route 12 just off the I-81, which is close to the last exit before the Thousand Islands Bridge that leads into Ontario. Reports regarding proposed racino expansion at Bonnie Castle go all the way back to late 2011 and last hit the news early in 2013.
Updated reports regarding the most recent push for a Bonnie Castle racino have come out in the mainstream media over the course of the past couple of weeks. Now, some officials in the Gananoque area have publicly stated some of their concerns over the situation.
The Recorder and Times article has cited Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark as saying that an expansion at Bonnie Castle could hurt the OLG Casino Thousand Islands, which is located in Gananoque. Officials behind the proposed expansion are expecting the new facility to draw many people in from across the border in Ontario.
The report has cited Clark as saying that the OLG’s gaming modernization process is hindering the Gananoque casino’s ability to defend itself from possible Bonnie Castle competition. According to Clark, that hindrance is because the future operator of the OLG’s East Gaming Bundle – which OLG Casino Thousand Islands is a part of – is not yet known.
The OLG has stated that the successful bidder for the East Gaming Bundle area is expected to be announced early next year.
(With files from the Recorder and Times)
no thought used in OLG
no thought used in OLG modernization at border crossings where the usa markets/states know how that homeland security/travel delays/casino tax revenue make their operations a viable alternative to canada.