by Kelly Spencer, for Grand River Raceway

Elora, ON — Grand River Raceway and its operator the Grand River Agricultural Society welcomes Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and Clairvest Group Inc. as the successful proponent as selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to operate its gaming facility.

The announcement was made on Dec. 19 and did not includes specific timelines for the transition.

The Elora, Ontario track is part of the West Greater Toronto Area (the West GTA Bundle) which includes gaming operations at OLG Casino Brantford, OLG Slots at Mohawk Racetrack and OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs. These facilities have a combined total of more than 2,500 slot machines, approximately 60 table games, employ more than 1,400 staff, and generated approximately C$450 million in gross gaming revenue in fiscal 2017.

“We congratulate Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and Clairvest Group and are excited to welcome them to Grand River Raceway,” said Paul Walker, President of the Grand River Agricultural Society. “Together, we look forward to making the investments necessary to create an enhanced entertainment destination in Centre Wellington that will support the activities of the Grand River Agricultural Society for years to come.”

GCGC and Clairvest will acquire all the gaming assets in the West GTA Bundle and will enter into leases for each of the facilities. It will have the exclusive right to operate these assets for a minimum period of 20 years, in accordance with the requirements of a Casino Operating and Services Agreement.