By Samantha Craggs, CBC News
Posted: Nov 15, 2012 7:16 AM ET
Last Updated: Nov 15, 2012 7:15 AM ET
There are several parties interested in running a casino in Hamilton, and who they are will likely trickle out over the coming weeks, says the city's general manager of planning and economic development.
Tim McCabe said, after a council meeting Wednesday, that there is interest from more than one operator so far, but he couldn't elaborate.
"These are confidential meetings as part of our economy development program," he said. "We meet with investors. They're scouting things out."
But if events in Toronto are any indication, potential bidders will make themselves known as the days go on in the interest of promoting their plans, McCabe said.
"You're going to see some people come out of the woodwork. They have to get their ducks in a row."
Hamilton has been grappling with the idea of a casino since earlier this year, when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced a province-wide "modernization" of its services.
That process has seen some municipalities pass motions in favour of stand-alone gaming facilities. Once that motion is passed, the OLG will find potential operators through a request for proposals process.
The modernization coincides with the elimination of the provincial Slots at Racetracks program, through which Ontario operates about 800 slots at Flamboro Downs and streams about $4.4 million into the city's coffers.
Hamilton councillors are getting community feedback and plan to survey residents on whether they want a casino. But council can't ask the public for its opinion when it doesn't even know basic details such as how large a casino might be or where it might be located, Coun. Brad Clark said.
"We should know what size the casino is and whether there's hotel or convention space with it," Clark said after the meeting.
Councillors are "exasperated" at the lack of details about what the casino might look like, he said.
"OLG must know what's going on but they're not sharing the information with us, and as a consequence we can't share that information with our citizens," the Stoney Creek councillor said. "It's different in other municipalities and we don't understand why."
As far as council knows, Clark said, the proposal could be "a slot machine at a corner store."
But McCabe thinks that's unlikely. A stand-alone casino "would not help anyone," he said.
"I want something big that's going to help Hamilton and our tourism industry that will be entertainment and mixed use."
As for when interested parties make their plans known, "that's going to be their decision," he said. "They're not bidders yet, they're interested parties."
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