Ontario Clears Key Hurdle in Push to Build Niagara’s ‘Las Vegas North’

MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. (MGE) has agreed to give up its exclusive casino gaming rights in the Niagara region, opening the door for Ontario to bring in new casino operators as it pursues plans to transform Niagara Falls into “Las Vegas North.”

The Ontario government announced an agreement with MGE, a milestone in the province’s Destination Niagara Strategy, bringing new investment and development to the region, expanding Ontario’s economy.

MGE is the Mohegan-controlled company that operates Niagara Falls’ two casinos – Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. In Ontario, private-sector casino operators manage land-based casino operations after entering into agreements with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), with OLG retaining responsibility for conducting and managing gaming.

Casino Exclusivity Comes to End

“Niagara has long been one of Ontario’s premier tourism destinations, and we’re working to unlock its full potential and attract more visitors and investment for decades to come,” said Doug Downey, interim minister of tourism, culture and gaming. 

“Our government is creating the conditions for long-term growth by building on the region’s strengths and unlocking new opportunities for businesses, workers and communities across Niagara.”

Through agreements with OLG, operators are granted exclusivity rights in the regions where they operate.

New Operators Could Enter

OLG will now launch a procurement process later this year to identify potential new gaming operators for the region.

“OLG and MGE are continuing our strong partnership and shared commitment to the Niagara community,” said Duncan Hannay, president and CEO of OLG. 

“We are excited about what the future could hold as we work together to help realize the full potential of Niagara’s casino business and the economic benefits that flow from it.”

Ontario’s Destination Niagara Strategy aims to generate an additional $3 billion in annual GDP, attract 25 million visitors, introduce new world-class attractions, boost local arts and culture, and revitalize the region’s transportation network.

Building a “Las Vegas North”

Transportation improvements include the twinning of the QEW’s Garden City Skyway bridge, a key link to the province’s highway network, and the Niagara region’s three international bridge crossings with the U.S. and the rest of Ontario.

As we wrote here in November 2025, Niagara District Airport is also being expanded to allow for more flights from across Canada and the U.S., changing from a general aviation hub to a modern regional gateway. The province has made a $10 million investment in that project. 

“Under the leadership of Premier [Doug] Ford, our government is moving forward with historic investments that will make it faster and easier for millions of tourists to access Niagara Falls each year and experience world-class travel destinations across the region,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, minister of transportation.