rival their U.S. cousins in both games and amenities
by Roger Gros
A recently released survey has shown that U.S. citizens have many misconceptions about Canada. Whether it’s the Canadian involvement in the international arena (Americans generally don’t realize the key contributions Canada has made with regard to many thorny issues) or products that come from Canada (U.S. residents are hard pressed to name even one Canadian import—outside of beer), there is an appalling lack of knowledge about the northern neighbor of the U.S.
That misconception extends to the gaming industry. Few Americans realize that Ontario is one of the most lucrative gaming jurisdictions in North America, with land-based casinos, First Nation (Indian) casinos, "racinos" (slots at racetracks), and large "charity" casinos. And even fewer understand that the three casinos of Quebec are among the most unique on the continent.
Ontario has many different options when it comes to gaming. The three casinos in Ontario are virtually indistinguishable from their American cousins, with the full range of casino services and amenities available. All are operated by major casino companies with U.S. casinos. About the only differences are the legal age (19 vs. 21 in the U.S.) and the fact that alcohol must be purchased and is not served complimentary anywhere in the casino facility.
Casino WindsorAs casinos are opened in Detroit, perceptions about gaming in Ontario may change. Anyone who takes the time to visit the interesting MGM Grand Detroit interim casino—which is now open—should head to Windsor, a very pleasant city south of Detroit. There they will find Casino Windsor, a state-of-the-art facility that is operated by a partnership of Park Place Entertainment and Hilton Hotels.
Ron Barbaro, chairman and CEO of the Ontario Casino Corporation (which oversees all the Ontario casinos, including Casino Windsor) is hoping gamblers will soon be able to feel more comfortable with the property, once it assumes a new, more familiar, name.
"From the moment I came on board, I couldn’t understand why the property wasn’t branded as a Caesars Palace from the very beginning," he says. "That’s my marketing head speaking, I want the Caesars sign on the roof facing the Detroit River."
Whether Barbaro gets his way or not is contingent upon Park Place Entertainment closing the deal to purchase Caesars World later this year. But regardless of the name, Casino Windsor is a first class facility. It opened in 1994, in a former art gallery on the Detroit River. Last year, the permanent facility opened down the street on the river, and gaming in Canada has never been the same.
With 100,000 sq. ft. of gaming space and a hotel that virtually glitters, Casino Windsor will impress even the most jaded gambler. Four restaurants, from the gourmet Riverside Grille to the Atrium Courtyard Food Court, satisfy the pickiest tastes. The 389 hotel rooms and suites are very comfortable, and come with a safe, separate showers and baths, and other fine amenities.
While Casino Windsor is in Canada, it is so close to the U.S. that it lies south of Detroit. Visitors to the Motor City can be inside the casino in minutes via a midtown tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge.
Windsor itself is a pleasant Canadian city with a European flair. Quaint shops, fine dining and outdoor activities abound in Windsor, and the city has a much safer feel than the sometimes gritty Detroit.
Windsor, like all Canadian casinos, offers Americans some definite incentives to travel north of the border (or south, as the case may be).
All visitors to Canadian casinos are required to exchange their U.S. gambling dollars for Canadian dollars. The good news is that the exchange rate is very favorable. At press time, for every U.S. dollar, you received about $1.50 Canadian. This enables gamblers to play longer on the same bankroll, and table players who play by "color"—red chips, green chips, etc.—will reach their goals sooner in Canada than they would in U.S. casinos. Slot players will find favorable payback percentages as well. Although the Ontario government does not yet release player payback figures, Barbaro says plans are in the works to do so.
Another benefit of Canadian casinos is that they don’t charge tax on casino winnings. Unlike the U.S., where the IRS is informed about every jackpot above $1,200, players get the entire jackpot. U.S. citizens are required to report to the IRS any gaming profits above $1,200 after returning to the U.S., and must report the transfer of any funds in excess of $10,000 when crossing the border. But in Canada, the money is passed to the players tax free.
The nearly 3,000 slot machines at Casino Windsor are identical to those found in any major gaming destination—Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune, Triple Diamonds, Jeopardy, Reel ‘Em In… if the machine is popular, you’ll find it at this property. A new "Big Nickel Mine" on the casino’s second level introduces an extensive collection of five-cent games to Canada for the first time. The "mine" theme makes the nickel area one of the most unique in the casino.
Table games are always popular in Canada, and now gamblers can enjoy craps. In April, Casino Windsor introduced the game, soon after the Canadian government did away with a 611-year ban on it. This prohibition dates back to the time of the 100-Year War in England, when the king decided that his troops were whiling away their time with dice games, and eliminated that distraction. Casino Windsor currently allows six dice games, with more on the way.
Bobby Yee, president of Casino Windsor, explains the progression.
"We had a lot of experienced players and very few experienced craps dealers," he explains. "We went slow and wanted to make sure we gave the customers the right experience. We started with two, went to three, then four, and now we’re at six games. We think we have as good a craps dealers as there is in the region."
With 80 percent of its players coming from the United States, Casino Windsor is taking measures to ensure that, in light of upcoming competition from the Detroit casinos, it remains a favorite. In addition to nickel slot machines and craps, the property plans to increase its entertainment offerings, and has begun to feature boxing and cigar events for its male patrons.
Most exciting, according to Yee, is a new high-limit area that is slated to open soon and promises to be truly unique.
"In my estimation, the quality of this facility is not available anywhere in North America right now."
The area will contain more restaurants and bars, and will cater to the high-end clientele that has just begun to discover the joys of Casino Windsor.
Casino Rama
About 90 minutes north of Toronto lies the sleepy town of Orilla, in a region of Ontario known as the "cottage country"—a favorite vaction spot for Ontario residents. On land owned by the Mnjikaning First Nation (Canadian Native Americans), also known as the Chippewas of Rama, stands Casino Rama.
The site was chosen in 1994, with the proceeds from the casino being divided up between all the 131 First Nation bands. Casino Rama is operated by Carnival Hotels & Casinos, the company that operates the Belle of Baton Rouge in Louisiana.
With 70,000 sq. ft. of casino space, Casino Rama has been a very popular gaming destination for Toronto residents, but its reputation is just beginning to spread beyond Canada into the U.S. Midwest. All the popular slot machines and table games are available, with an emphasis placed on Asian games, such as baccarat, pai gow, and sic bo.
Like Casino Windsor, craps was recently introduced at Casino Rama, and has taken the casino by storm. And with more than 100 table games and 2,200 slot machines, the property now has something for everyone.
As a northern gaming destination, Casino Rama cannot offer perfect weather year-round, but the casino has made an effort to appeal to people who don’t mind inclement weather by providing parking for snowmobiles. Each winter, hundreds of the machines take to the road for the drive to to the casino,. In turn, the property offers special promotions to people who venture out astride one these vehicles.
Entertainment plays a big role in the marketing of Casino Rama. A temporary structure, opened for a couple of years now, has featured many superstars, including Wynonna, Wayne Newton, Englebert Humperdinck, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole and the Canadian songbird, Anne Murray.
Barbaro has recently completed plans for a $245 million addition to Casino Rama, which will include a four-star hotel and a permanent entertainment complex, as well as additional gaming space.
Casino Niagara
One of the most successful casinos in North America is located, not coincidentally, in one of the continent’s most successful tourist destinations—Niagara Falls.
With almost 14 million people visiting the Falls each year, Casino Niagara was a natural for the Canadian government. Located just across the Rainbow Bridge from Niagara Falls, NY, Casino Niagara is so popular that, on weekends, there is often a wait to enter the three-level casino. Thankfully, the current casino is just an interim affair, and a more substantial permanent casino is planned nearby. But in the meantime, gaming in Niagara Falls will continue to be a standing-room only event.
The Ontario government recently anointed Falls Management, a partnership between Hyatt Development Corporation and four Canadian companies, as developer and operator of the casino properties in Niagara Falls. (Hyatt operates the Grand Victoria riverboats in Illinois and Indiana.) In addition to operating the interim casinos, Falls Management is committed to building a $500 million "gateway" facility that will include a 100,000 sq. ft. casino, a 350-room Hyatt hotel, 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibition space, a 1,200-seat performing arts centre, a multiplex cinema, a variety of themed food and beverage outlets, a full-service health spa, retail and more.
Off-site attractions will include a year-round, 12,000-seat, indoor/outdoor amphitheater; participation in River Country, a major expansion to the existing Marineland; and financial support and assistance for the city’s new people-mover system.
Barbaro says the interim casino will remain in place when the permanent facility opens, and is even looking at building a second temporary casino to take the strain off the existing interim while construction proceeds on the permanent casino.
With its convenient location, the current Casino Niagara offers 96,000 sq. ft. of gaming space, with 2,700 slot machines and144 table games. Dining choices include the Mediterranean-style fine dining establishment, Farfalle; the casual dining of the Market; and an extensive food court. Casino Niagara also features a Hard Rock Café and Marilyn’s, a lounge devoted to the memory of Marilyn Monroe, circa the time when she starred in the movie, Niagara.
The grand entrance to Casino Niagara is its most distinctive feature, with an 80-ft. atrium, covered by a dome and lit by lasers. For entertainment, there’s a "lightning" storm under the dome each evening.
Of course, the main reason to head to Niagara Falls is to see the breathtaking beauty of the Falls. Anyone who hasn’t seen this natural wonder of the world will be floored with the spectacle of the scene. (And yes, for those of you who question, the view from the Canadian side is much better than the one from the U.S. side.)
Despite the awe-enspiring lure of this natural wonder, Niagara Falls has been a declining tourist area for more than a quarter of a century. For this reason, the region has been looking forward to hosting a casino for many years. Casino Niagara fulfills that dream.
And in a few years, when the new permanent casino is open, Casino Niagara will be one of the most talked-about destinations in the gaming world. So get there early. Continued on next page
Contact Information: Casino Windsor (http://www.casinowindsor.com)
VIVA LA DIFFERENCE
Visitors to Canada will know immediately that they are in another country. With a different currency, different languages (French in Quebec, although English is spoken widely), and different rules, the Canadian gaming halls can surprise Americans—sometimes a good surprise, sometimes not. This guide will help prevent the nasty kind of surprises.
Currency: The Canadian dollar is the resident currency, although American dollars are accepted everywhere. But if you pass American dollars, expect to receive your change in Canadain money. At press time, an American dollar was worth approximately $1.50 Canadian. There are several ways to change your dollars into Canadian money. All casinos offer a money exchange near the entrance. These exhanges offer the going rate, but sometimes inventive visitors can find better rates at private money-changing shops in major Canadian cities. Canadian slot machines will NOT accept U.S. dollars. There are some change machines available throughout the casino that will accept U.S. dollars and return either tokens or coins at the prevailing exchange rate. While the exchange rate may make some players believe they are getting more money, the fact remains that one U.S. dollar is worth $1.55 in Canada and vice versa. So when reconverting to U.S. dollars, you may be disappointed in the final total.
Taxes: Canadian casinos advertise that their winnings are "tax free." While this is true in Canada, American winners are required to report their lucky streak in any amount over U.S.$1,200 to U.S. tax authorities. And if a U.S. player transfers more than U.S.$10,000, he is required to report it to customs officials when crossing back into the U.S.
Alcohol: There are no free alcoholic drinks in Canada. All alcohol must be purchased. In the Quebec casinos, players are not permitted to drink alcohol at the gaming tables or slot machines. While the Quebec casinos provide bars off the gaming floor where drinking is permitted, it is not legal to carry those drinks or to order alcoholic drinks at the gaming tables. In Ontario, strict regulations control drinking on the casino floor, although it is allowed at the slots and gaming tables. Non-alcoholic beverages are available in all areas of Canadian casinos.
Credit: Casino credit is available at the casinos of Ontario, but is not permitted in Quebec. Visitors to the casino can wire money to any Quebec casino that will be available in the casino cage, but those casino are prohibitied from extending credit to any player. ATM machines are available in all Canadian casinos.
Games and Rules: Most table games in Canada have the same or similar rules as the U.S. In fact, the Canadian legislature recently approved a bill that legalized craps, which had been banned for 611 years under the English law adopted by Canada during its formation. Slot machines are virtually identical to their U.S. counterparts, although some older versions of popular games may be more prevalent in Quebec.
Dress Code: The casinos of Quebec have a dress code that prohibits cut-off shirts or shorts, tank-tops or camisoles, jogging outfits, beachwear, motorcycle boots, or "clothing associated with violence." Running shoes and clean jeans are acceptable. Most upscale restaurants require that the gentlemen wear a jacket.
Age: In Ontario, it is legal for 19 year olds to gamble. The gambling age in Quebec is 18 years old.
1-800-991-7777; Casino Rama (http://www.casino-rama.com) 1-888-817-RAMA (7262); Casino Niagara (http://www.casino-niagara.com) 1-888-946-3255; Casino de Montreal Casino de Charlevoix, Casino de Hull, 1-800-665-2274.
