The 33-acre entertainment resort taking shape on the outskirts of Toronto is to open this summer as the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto complete with a Las Vegas-style casino and a 5,000-seat live entertainments venue.

A $1 billion project from local casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment, the destination facility is being built next door to the existing Woodbine Racetrack at the intersection of Highways 401 and 427 and will additionally offer multiple on-site dining options and a new parkade as well as an integrated 400-room hotel.

Situated in the Etobicoke neighborhood of the Canada’s largest city, the 24-year-old Woodbine Racetrack is to remain open until the modern Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto begins welcoming patrons. Great Canadian Entertainment, which is already responsible for 25 facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, began work on the newest gambling venue for Toronto in 2021 following its acquisition by a fund affiliated with American private equity behemoth Apollo Global Management Incorporated.

Great Canadian Entertainment is to additionally utilize its Great Canadian Rewards loyalty program to publicize the range of exclusive promotions and offers coming to its Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto venue. The operator introduced this scheme for its Ontario-based customers in August so as to provide such patrons with the best hotel booking rates alongside the chance to receive special discounts and perks including gaming credits and comp dollars that may be redeemed at a range of participating restaurants.

Finally, Great Canadian Entertainment will be bringing a PlaySmart Centre to its Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto development in partnership with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation. This responsible gambling amenity is to be tasked with providing customers with all of the knowledge and tools they need to build and maintain positive playing habits.

“We see this as an unprecedented opportunity to introduce an entirely new world-class experience in Canada that will bring together the best in casino gaming, exceptional live entertainment, dining and accommodation in one very special place,” Matthew Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer for Great Canadian Entertainment, said. “We are very excited to reveal more about what this landmark destination will feature and what our guests can expect in the coming weeks, including the announcement of an opening date. This project has been several years in the making and we are thrilled that we are close to bringing it to life.”