In Canada, the Casino Niagara recently marked its 20th birthday with an announcement that it is to receive just over $5.3 million in partnership with the provincial gaming authority for an upgrade that is set to include around $2.5 million for new casino floor technology.

According to a report from the Niagara Falls Review newspaper, the revelation was made by Richard Taylor, Operations Vice-President for Toronto-based operator Falls Management Group, at the an event held to celebrate the Ontario facility’s milestone.

“The investment will help us lead the Casino Niagara into the future with new gaming technology, new dining experiences and enhanced customer experience,” said Taylor.

John MacFarlane, Gaming Senior Vice-President for the Ontario Lottery And Gaming Corporation, reportedly told the newspaper that the provincial Crown corporation is committed to ensuring both the Casino Niagara, which opened in 1996 and was originally meant to be a temporary casino until a more permanent facility was built, and the nearby and much larger Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort “remain relevant to our customers”.

“Here at the Casino Niagara, we’re in the process of upgrading some of the [food and beverage] offerings and other parts of the facility,” MacFarlane told the Niagara Falls Review. “Early in the new year, we will start upgrading the gaming floor and casino entrances and will continue to improve the food and beverage offerings to the customers.”

Jim Diodati, the mayor for Niagara Falls, reportedly revealed that city counselors had just recently unanimously passed a trio of resolutions calling on provincial authorities to ensure that the city of 83,000 people remained as the nation’s premiere gaming resort destination before adding that the two gabling properties had served as a “catalyst” for additional investment.

“Our message to the [Ontario Lottery And Gaming Corporation], our message to the province is invest here, build your theaters here, invest and upgrade your casinos here,” Diodati told the Niagara Falls Review. “We have upwards of a two-to-one private-to-public-sector investment. The first 20 years were pretty incredible, pretty transformative and we believe if we make the right decisions today that tomorrow will be that much better.”

The Ontario casino moreover celebrated its birthday by reportedly giving a check for $75,899 to be equally split among five local charity organizations encompassing the Niagara Community Foundation, Project Share, Niagara College, Niagara Falls Tourism and the One Foundation For Niagara Health.

“Since day one, our core values and commitment to giving back to our community have remained firm,” Taylor told the newspaper. “We have invested more than $15.1 million into improving essential social services and programs used by the citizens of Niagara Falls and surrounding areas.”