Eight years, from December 1996 to 2004, set down four of this region's casinos and the racetrack where the fifth stands now. This page takes them in date order, with the names and operators each one has had.
Before 1996: the racetrack
Ontario's gaming history starts at the racetrack. Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing was the province's first legal gaming activity. That order still shows in this region. Two of the five casinos now stand at harness racetracks: Flamboro Downs at Dundas and Grand River Raceway at Elora.
Racing did not keep the field to itself. Lotteries arrived as competition in the 1970s. Casinos followed in the 1990s, and that second wave is where this region's own story begins. The date that opens it is December 9, 1996.
1996: Casino Niagara
On December 9, 1996, Casino Niagara opened its doors in Niagara Falls. It was the second casino to open in Ontario. The address is 5705 Falls Ave, beside Clifton Hill. For the Niagara side of this region, that date is where casino history starts.
The facility was not meant to stay. Casino Niagara was first planned as a temporary facility, to run until the Niagara Fallsview casino resort was finished. That resort opened in 2004, and the temporary casino did not close. As of October 2026, it is operated by Mohegan, governed by OLG and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Holiday hours should be checked on the casino's own site.
1998 and 1999: slots and two openings
In 1998 the Ontario government decided that racetracks could host slots-only facilities. Slots could reduce betting on races. So OLG agreed to give racetrack operators 20% of the net revenue from slots at racetracks. The Slots at Racetracks Program was launched that year. By 2006 each of the 17 racetracks in Ontario had OLG slot machines.
Brantford's casino opened in 1999 as the Brantford Charity Casino. Its name later changed to OLG Casino Brantford. Since May 2018 it has been Elements Casino Brantford, managed by Great Canadian.
The gaming facility at Flamboro also opened in 1999, beside the Flamboro Downs racetrack on Highway 5 at Dundas. By June 29, 2023 it had provided $100 million to the City of Hamilton as a host community, paid through OLG. On May 1, 2018 its name changed from OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs to Elements Casino Flamboro.
2004: Grand River and Fallsview
Grand River Raceway opened at Elora in 2004, and its first race date was April 24, 2004. The track is 5/8 of a mile on a 53-acre site. Its owner and operator is the Grand River Agricultural Society, a not-for-profit. The casino on site is now Elements Casino Grand River, run by Great Canadian Entertainment. This guide gives no date for the opening of its slots.
On June 10, 2004, Fallsview Casino Resort opened to the public in Niagara Falls. It was built at a cost of $1 billion. Casino Niagara had been first planned as a temporary facility until this resort was finished. The resort opened, and Casino Niagara stayed open. Since June 11, 2019, Mohegan has operated both day to day, under a 21-year agreement with OLG.
Questions
Which casino in this region opened first?
Casino Niagara opened its doors on December 9, 1996. It was the second casino to open in Ontario. The Brantford and Flamboro openings came in 1999, and Fallsview Casino Resort opened on June 10, 2004.
Did all five casinos open in the 1990s?
Three of them did: Casino Niagara in 1996, and the Brantford and Flamboro casinos in 1999. Fallsview Casino Resort opened on June 10, 2004. Grand River Raceway opened in 2004, and this guide gives no date for the opening of its slots.
Is Casino Niagara still a temporary casino?
It was first planned as a temporary facility until the Fallsview resort was finished. Fallsview opened on June 10, 2004, and Casino Niagara stayed open. As of October 2026 it is operated by Mohegan and governed by OLG.