Work will begin next week on the $25 million casino in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada.

The Cascades Casino Penticton being developed by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment will be located next to the South Okanagan Events Centre. The casino will include a large gaming floor, approximately 45,000 square feet, with entertainment and several full-service dining options, including the Public House and Match Eatery. Also included are plans for a rooftop patio.

As many as 150 new jobs are expected to be created by the project, which will inject $25 million into the Penticton economy. Adding to the long-term investment, approximately 200 construction jobs will be created, as well as years of construction employment. Upon completion and once fully staffed, approximately 300 people will be employed by Cascades Casino Penticton.

Construction began on May 2, and will continue throughout this year. The grand opening is planned for spring 2017. The ground breaking and photo-op are scheduled for Friday, May 13 at 12:00pm at the Southeast corner of the South Okanagan Events Centre parking lot. Attending the ceremony will be the CEO of Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, Tony Santo, along with Dan Ashton, MLA for Penticton & Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, and the Mayor of Penticton, Andrew Jakubeit. More information regarding project details will be released then, according to information provided by Gateway.

On January 4, the Penticton City Council hosted a special council meeting regarding the Gateway’s application to relocate its Lake City Casino to the South Okanagan Events Centre. While some community members in attendance still had concerns related to increases in litter and traffic, the project was passed in a 6 to 0 vote and earned support from the Penticton City Council.

One of Western Canada’s largest casino and entertainment companies, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited operates 12 casinos in Alberta and British Columbia and has more than 3,000 employees. Its properties include The Grand Villa Casino & Convention Centre Burnaby, Starlight Casino New Westminster, and Cascades Resort Casino Langley to name a few.