Ontario casino will compete with three Detroit gambling houses

Thursday, July 22, 1999 | 9:32 a.m.

The $39-million, 60,000-square-foot casino is being constructed at an old railroad freight building along the banks of the St. Clair River, across from Port Huron, and will open later this year, Ontario officials say.

The casino, which will be located within an hour's drive of the four gambling houses, will be substantially smaller than Casino Windsor and the three casinos planned for Detroit. But Canadian officials feel they can still lure away some of those customers to the new gambling venue.

"We're certainly going to attract Michigan residents," Jim Cronin, director of communication for the Ontario Lottery Corp., told The Detroit News for a report today. "And the reasons are: We don't tax jackpots, and the American dollar is so strong, Americans get a lot more gambling for their dollar."

The casino, to be operated by the Ontario Lottery Corp. under provincial charity gaming laws, will have 450 slot machines and 30 table games, including blackjack. Dice games may be added later.

It will be in Point Edward, a village of 2,069 that is surrounded by Sarnia.

"It's going to be gorgeous," said Pierette LaChance, casino coordinator for the village of Point Edward. "It's going to be right on the river. There's a lot of excitement."

Port Huron city officials are unsure of what the casino will mean to their city. Residents voted down a chance five years ago to allow an Indian-run casino in the city.

"I have mixed feelings about it," Mayor Pro Tem Mary Mechtenberg said. "It will be right across the river from some expensive condos built recently here. We hope if they do go there to gamble, they will stop here and eat and be entertained in our city."

The casino, Ms. Mechtenberg said, "will make a bundle."

City Councilman Cliff Schrader said there is concern the casinos will increase crime in the area.

"There is concern how this will impact the city of Port Huron," Schrader said. "We won't end up with any of the cash flow, but we're not quite sure what the negative impact will be. And we're not sure if it will generate tourism dollars with people coming back and forth between here and Detroit."