Colorado-based, Century Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTY), announced Thursday that the casino, sports bar, off-track betting lounge and restaurant at its Century Mile Racetrack and Casino near the city of Leduc in Alberta, Canada will open on April 1, 2019, to be followed by a grand opening celebration planned for the evening of April 27.

The racino’s one-mile racetrack will kick off the horse racing season with thoroughbred racing the next day on April 28, according to the official press release.

Calgary and Edmonton flow:

Situated just south of Edmonton, off of one of Western Canada’s most heavily used highways, the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, the company anticipates that its $US46.6 million (Feb. 26, 2019 exchange rate-based) investment will benefit from its location near the Edmonton International Airport, retail outlets, a shopping mall, a golf course, hotels and a multitude of other businesses.

Property amenities:

The venue features a casino and a grandstand building totaling 89,700 sq ft spread over several floors, with first-floor amenities including the casino, with its initial 550 slot and electronic table games offering, alongside 38 stadium-style games, 14 video lottery terminals (VLTs), a horse betting area, a full-service restaurant and a bar and a lounge.

The second floor of the venue features both indoor and outdoor tiered grandstand seating, with a trio of private suites and viewing areas, all of which oversee the racetrack, a horse betting area, a bar and a buffet and a grill. An open patio on the third floor offers amazing views over the paddock and racetrack.

There are also barns on the 100 acres with a capacity of 800 stalls including all of the amenities horsemen and trainers need, as well as more than 1,700 car parking stalls. The one-mile track features a 1,280 ft homestretch and horses will race distances from 4.5 furlongs to 1.5 miles. A distance of 7 furlongs will be available at both Century Mile Racetrack and Casino and Century Downs in North Calgary, located about 160 miles from Century Mile. According to coordinated racing calendars, both tracks will also feature Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarterhorse racing throughout the year.

Major races 2019:

Throughout 2019, the main racing events the track will play host to include the Oaks and Derby Preview on Canada Day, July 1, the prestigious Packwood Grand event on August 17, the $150,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby on August 18, followed by the $130,000 Western Canadian Pacing Derby, the $130,000 Don Byrne Memorial on September 15, and will wrap up the season with the $350,000 Alberta Superfinals on November 2.

Operational control:

The international casino entertainment company assumed operation of the pari-mutuel off-track and Internet horse betting in Canada‘s Northern Alberta on January 1, 2019. The worldwide operator reportedly added 20 off-track betting parlors to the 13 already run by Century Bets! in Southern Alberta.

Century Casinos:

In addition to its two properties in Colorado including Century Casino & Hotel Central City and Century Casino and Hotel Cripple Creek, Century Casino’s Canadian portfolio encompasses six venues such as the Century Casino St Albert and the Century Casino Calgary. The global enterprise also owns and operates Century Casino & Hotels in Bath, England and via its Century Resorts Management GmbH Austrian subsidiary holds a 66.6 percent stake in Casinos Poland Ltd., which throughout Poland owns eight casino licenses, seven of which are operating, alongside many other ownership interests and international projects.