Proposed $1B Sudbury Casino Resort Faces Major OLG Exclusivity Hurdle

A Sudbury businessman is pushing forward with plans to build a major hotel and casino in the city by 2031, reviving a project first envisioned two decades ago.

Dan Abdel-Nour announced his plans for Country Pine Casino & Resort in a news release posted on Facebook in August. In an article in The Sudbury Star on Aug. 26, he said the project was “very real.”

The private-sector development would feature an 18-story luxury hotel, a collection of fine-dining and casual-dining restaurants, lounges, and a concert hall and theater with approximately 8,000 seats.

The “high-end” casino would feature 50-100 tables and 2,000 slots, “offering a full range of gaming amenities comparable to leading resort destinations in Las Vegas.”

Ambitious Resort Plans

The project, to be located adjacent to the Silver Hills complex within the city, would also include a luxury spa and fitness center, corporate meeting and conference facilities, and event spaces for weddings, galas, conventions, and private functions. 

Perched atop the hotel will be a Diamond Star Rooftop restaurant with views of Ramsey Lake and the La Cloche Mountain range. A retail promenade will feature a mix of boutique shops along with a barista-style coffee café.

“Country Pine Casino & Resort is expected to serve as a catalyst project for Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario, attracting visitors, investment, and new development opportunities throughout the region,” the statement read. 

Luxury Amenities Anchor Proposal

Abdel-Nour’s Facebook statement quoted Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, who expressed support for the project, referenced support from the City of Sudbury’s SPART process (pre-consultation for proposed developments), and that they are working with J.L. Richards & Associates on the architecture and engineering side.

The project will be funded entirely through private capital and remains open to additional investors, according to a company statement.

Ontario’s Casino Approval Process

While the proposed Country Pine Casino & Resort is separate from Gateway Casinos & Entertainment’s planned property in the Kingsway Employment District, the project faces immediate regulatory hurdles.

An Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) spokesperson noted that commercial casinos operate under strict regional gaming bundles.

Before any new facility can proceed, it requires formal municipal approval and must clear a competitive OLG procurement process before being registered by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

If selected, an operator enters into a long-term Casino Operating and Services Agreement (COSA) with OLG.

Once contracted by OLG, the operator, its executives and key employees, and gaming suppliers undergo background and sustainability reviews by AGCO to obtain registration.

“There can only be one casino in the Sudbury gaming zone,” said Tony Bitonti, OLG spokesperson. “Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited has exclusive rights to operate Gateway Casinos Sudbury on behalf of OLG in the North Gaming Bundle.

“While Gateway is currently working with the City of Sudbury to relocate its casino to a parcel of land at 2550 Kingsway, it is not related to the Country Pines Casino proposal, and Gateway is not considering any other locations,” Bitonti concluded.

While developers remain optimistic about bringing private investment to Sudbury by 2031, navigating Ontario’s rigid gaming bundle system promises to be the project’s toughest gamble yet.