London's Cascades Casino nears ribbon-cutting after $50M, 27-month rebuild
The Western Fair District venue now has 18 gaming tables, almost 900 slots and a staff of more than 300.
A $50-million rebuild of the casino at London's Western Fair District is largely finished, and an official ribbon-cutting is expected within a few weeks.
The project has turned the former slots facility, previously known as Gateway Casinos London, into Cascades Casino. Work began in 2023 and was done in phases over 27 months, which allowed the gaming floor to stay open during construction.
The renovation added 14,000 square feet, taking the gaming floor from about 70,000 to 84,000 square feet. It now holds 18 gaming tables and close to 900 slot machines, CTV News reported in late June. Away from the gaming areas, the casino offers two restaurants, several bars and an outdoor patio. The 2023 plans named the restaurants as Match Eatery and Public House and Chow Lucky Noodle House.
More staff on site
The expansion added 80 people to the payroll, and the casino now employs more than 300 staff.
London also has a direct financial stake in the venue. The casino sits on city-owned property, and as host municipality the city receives a portion of its gaming revenue. A few years before the rebuild, the Western Fair District came close to losing the casino to a vacant site on Wonderland Road South. Gateway's decision to stay and reinvest kept a long-term tenant on the grounds.
The casino is one of several entertainment properties in and around the eastern section of Old East Village, where the Western Fair District is located. When the project was announced, local councillor Susan Stevenson said the city wanted the casino to become a regional destination.
Cascades is a brand of Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, which runs a number of casinos in Ontario under agreements with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. A date for the official opening ceremony had not been announced when the project was reported as nearly complete.