Sudbury Businessman Touts New Casino Resort, but OLG Says Gateway Has Exclusive Rights

A Sudbury businessman said plans to open a new hotel and casino in the city by 2030-31 are moving forward, two decades after the project was first envisioned.

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 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.

Ambitious Resort Plans

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.”

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.

Luxury Amenities Anchor Proposal

“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. 

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 financed entirely through private investment, the statement read, and is still open to further capital investors.

Ontario’s Casino Approval Process

The Country Pine Casino & Resort is not connected to the Kingsway Employment District (KED), which will host a new Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited property. 

However, as a spokesperson from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) said, not so fast. 

In the province, OLG conducts and manages Ontario’s land-based casino system, while the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulates casinos and registers their operators, suppliers and key employees.

Ontario’s land-based casinos are grouped into regional gaming bundles. An AGCO spokesperson said OLG needs to greenlight a project first, then do a competitive procurement. A new casino site requires formal municipal approval before OLG can proceed. 

Gateway Holds Exclusive Rights

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.”