The City of Ottawa is one more “Yes” vote away from officially starting the search for a potential new casino.
The city’s finance committee voted for an “in principle” agreement for a casino in the city Tuesday night, a distinction that would allow the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to start looking for partners to run a potential new casino.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said the city’s existing gaming facility at the Rideau Carleton Raceway should be in the mix as they look to win over patrons of Gatineau’s Casino Lac Leamy.
“My view is that we should at least entertain the idea of either expanding Rideau-Carleton or providing a new casino option,” he said.
“The Rideau-Carleton Raceway should be one of the bidders, it’s one of the players and should be accepted on a level playing field.”
OLG’s CEO Rod Phillips said they want to bring a casino to the city after the best location has been chosen.
“We've been clear with council about the fact that there are other options,” he said. “Those opportunities should be looked at, they'll have to decide if that makes sense.”
The meeting, which lasted almost until midnight, involved citizens and interest groups sticking up for both sides of the new casino debate.
“Leave the casino at Lac-Leamy, leave the casino at Rideau-Carleton if that's the way they want to go, but we don't need another facility,” said Diane McIntyre.
“It will rob jobs from other local dining and entertainment venues.”
“I think the logical place is downtown, and if we want to optimize those revenues this is precisely where it should be,” said Gerry Lepage of the Bank Street BIA. “Not out in Rideau-Carleton.”
Casino opponents such as McIntyre raised questions about the impact a new casino would have on people living with gambling addictions, but Watson said that’s being taken into consideration.
“Let's see what we can do to level the playing field, to make sure those problem gamblers who are spending their money in Quebec are helped in Ontario with Ontario tax dollars,” he said.
This “in principle” agreement goes to full city council Oct. 10.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Claudia Cautillo
