More than 3,700 employees, including dealers, food-and-beverage workers, valets, and cleaning staff, have been on strike since last week at Detroit’s MGM Grand, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown, seeking higher wages and better working conditions. Some table games, poker tables, bars, and restaurants at those casinos have shut down.
Caesars Windsor is right across the border, just over four miles (15 minutes by car) from the MGM Grand Detroit, for example.
And while it’s difficult at this point to quantify financial benefits to Caesars Windsor from any boost in traffic by American gamblers heading across the border, there’s no question Caesars Windsor and Windsor tourism folks see a great opportunity.
Susanne Tomkins, manager of public relations and communications at Caesars Windsor, said, “U.S. visitors have always been an important part of our business and we welcome them to visit our property, either for the first time or for a return visit.”
Caesars celebrated 15 years of operating the city’s casino this past June. It is one of the largest casino-resorts in Canada, which is in addition to the 56 properties the company operates in the U.S.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) just released Request for Proposal documents to pre-qualified companies selected to bid on the Windsor casino. OLG isn’t releasing the names of those companies and so far CDC Gaming hasn’t been able to confirm it, but it would be a shocker if Caesars wasn’t in the mix to continue operating it.
In a statement last June celebrating their 15th, the company highlighted a multi-million-dollar property expansion that included a second Four Diamond hotel tower and the Colosseum Theatre.
So while he admits he doesn’t have anything anecdotally showing that more Americans are coming north, Gordon Orr, chief executive officer of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, said Caesars Windsor carries “the number-one brand in gaming” and has many amenities for guests to enjoy.
“If Detroit casino patrons are looking for a gaming experience without having to cross a picket line, Caesars Windsor is a desirable option,” he said. “If visitors from Michigan and Ohio have been before and are looking to return, or have never been to Caesars Windsor, now is the perfect time to see what a visit to Windsor’s number-one tourist attraction has to offer.
“Caesars Windsor’s current draw is about 33% Americans and considering the strong U.S. dollar, now is the time to leverage your extra buying power at our casino resort in downtown Windsor.”
