Great Blue Heron Casino Opens New Entertainment and Event Space — CDC Gaming Reports

Last year, the people of Mississauga on Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the news that the $1 billion Canadian Casino Resort Toronto was opening.

MSIFN has owned the Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel in nearby Port Perry since 1997. It is operated by Great Canadian Entertainment, the company that operates the new Toronto mega-casino.

MSIFN leadership saw that Great Blue Heron Casino had a shrinking market share. MSIFN president Kelly LaRocca said they saw a lack of interest in their facility, which LaRocca’s president at the time said lacked the “vibrancy” of other facilities, especially Toronto’s billion-dollar casino, and that it was an afterthought.

The news today is that a new live entertainment and special events venue will be opening at the Great Blue Heron. The facility is located near Lake Scugog in Durham Region. The shiny new 12,637-square-foot venue has a total capacity of about 800 and will be available for live performances, concerts and corporate gatherings.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation took over management of the Great Blue Heron (GBH) Casino from the First Nation in 2016. Ontario Gaming GTA LP, a partnership between Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (now Great Canadian Entertainment) and Brookfield Business Partners LP, has acquired Responsibility for the operations and management rights of Great Blue Heron, as well as OLG slots in Ajax and Woodbine, will follow.

CDC Gaming Reports has reached out to President LaRocca for comment, but we have yet to hear back from her, regarding their reaction to the new venue and the expected impact on their business there.

Great Blue Heron Hotel & Casino has a state-of-the-art gaming floor featuring over 600 slot machines, 16 table games, 10 electronic table games and a poker room. The 116-room hotel is located just steps from the casino.

Stella Gallant, general manager of Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel, said in a statement: “This new addition represents our commitment to providing comprehensive entertainment and event experiences for our guests and provides another reason to visit this exciting hotel.”