The Toronto City Council approved on Wednesday the addition of a casino at the Woodbine Racetrack and rejected a plan for the construction of a similar gambling venue downtown city.
City officials met yesterday to discuss important matters, such as the number of jobs the Woodbine casino would create as well as other benefits from the property. They also paid attention to the negative effects that such a development might have on Toronto and its residents. Eventually, councilors voted 25-19 in favor of the expansion of the racetrack, which already features as many as 2,700 slot machines.
Toronto Mayor John Tory, one of the Woodbine casino keen proponents, commented that the positive result means that the city council has voted for the creation of more jobs for residents. Yet ,the officials pointed out that concerns about gambling addicts and people with problem gambling behavior would not be diminished and will be paid due attention.
Although Mayor Tory and other proponents of the Woodbine Racetrack expansion believe that it would create job opportunities in the northwest part of the city, opponents of the proposal contended that it would result in job losses in other parts.
The Woodbine Racetrack is located in Rexdale. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG), known to be the local gambling regulator, is currently looking for an operator of the casino. Once expanded, the property would feature 5,000 slot machines and 120 table games, with craps, roulette, and blackjack being among those.
Jim Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group, commented that the approved casino project would boost Ontario’s horse racing industry and would create opportunities for further expansion. He also pointed out that a casino at his property could attract two times more visitors or approximately 12 million a year.
Councilor Mike Layton, one of the opponents of the proposal, said he was disappointed with this turn of the events, as the city council could have come up with more “creative” ways to secure job growth in the area.
According to initial estimates presented by the OLG, gambling expansion in the province could result in additional annual revenue of $805.4 million. Thus, the addition of casino at the Woodbine Racetrack could lead to more than $26.5 million being contributed to the city coffers.
