Caesars Entertainment is celebrating 15 years as the operator of the Windsor casino.
Caesars Windsor took over operations in 2008 after a multi-million dollar expansion that included a hotel tower and the Colosseum stage.
"I'm very proud. It's hard to believe 15 years have passed by since we lit up the Caesars sign, opened the Augustus tower, and Billy Joel christened the Colosseum stage," said Kevin Laforet, president of Caesars Windsor.
Laforet also reflected on how much the landscape of casino operations has changed and the challenges they've faced over that time.
"When we opened we were a monopoly, and everyone should work in a monopoly at some point in their life, we thought we were geniuses," said Laforet. "I think it's when the challenges came, the Detroit casinos, 9/11 which really thickened the border, smoking ban, SARS, and then lately COVID, is where this team really shone."
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Caesars Windsor donated $15,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex.
Caesars' current operating agreement ends on August 1, 2025. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has already started the process to select a future operator. Submissions for pre-qualification were due at the end of May.
