Nearing the realization of its $70 million Cascades Casino Delta development, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd. (Gateway) recently received approval from the Delta City Council to rezone a portion of the property located at 6005 Highway 17A. Approval from the Council followed the July 30th fourth and final public reading. According to the official press release… Construction is expected to begin this fall, after Canada’s largest casino and entertainment company [Gateway], receives final approval from the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
Approvals and informational meetings: In September last year, Gateway received preliminary approval from the BCLC to relocate its Newton Community Gaming Centre in Surrey to a new gaming and entertainment complex at Delta Town and Country Inn, located at the northwest intersection of Highways 99 and 17A. Following that, in early November 2017, the Burnaby, Canada-headquartered company officially applied to the Municipality of Delta, British Colombia. Since that time, a series of public information meetings have been conducted by both Gateway Casinos and the City of Delta in order to get feedback on the proposal from the company. Delta held its own public consultations on Nov. 28, Nov. 30 and Dec. 11, 2017, as well as Jan. 18, 2018. Public information meetings were additionally hosted by the City of Delta on February 1, 7 and 8, 2018.
Already successfully established in Kamloops, Langley and Penticton, BC, the Cascades brand will be featured at the new, planned Delta property. Planned use of space: Of the 10.8-acre site, nine acres will be used for parking lots and the building for the proposed development. The 1.8 acres that remain will be kept as green space. The 200,000 square foot facility, at build-out, will cost $70 million in capital investments and provide up to 700 new hospitality jobs once completed. Upon completion, The Cascades Casino Delta will include a premium hotel, with as many as 124 guest rooms, meeting and event space and a trio of the operator’s signature restaurants including Atlas Steak + Fish, The Buffet and Match Eatery & Public House. There will also be live entertainment and a gaming floor complete with as many as 500 slots and 24 table games.
The BCLC will determine the gaming area’s actual content. Chief Executive Officer for Gateway, Tony Santo said… “I’d like to thank Mayor Jackson and the Delta Council and the dedicated staff for their thoughtful consideration of this project throughout the approvals process. The final approval by Delta is a big step forward in delivering the new Cascades Casino Delta. I would also like to thank the Delta community who have participated in the multiple open house sessions, community events and public information sessions to express their support and excitement about the jobs and investment this will bring to Delta.” Ever-expanding operations: One of the largest and most diversified gaming entertainment companies in Canada, Gateway, which in May last year was awarded bundles in Northern Ontario and Southwestern Ontario last year, now operates 11 gaming properties in the province.
In July, Gateway signed a 23-year Casino Operating and Services Agreement (COSA) with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG) to acquire the assets of OLG’s Central Gaming Bundle. As a result, Gateway entered into leases for Casino Rama Resort on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands and OLG Slots at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, according to the press release at the time.
