Gateway to lay out casino expansion plans in London

The company planning to expand its casino footprint in London will lay out its expansion plans Monday at an afternoon committee meeting.

• Gateway Casinos seeks more bang for its buck at the Western Fair District

A representative from Gateway Casinos andEntertainment Limited, which operates the slots at London's Western Fair District, will make a presentation a thecity's strategic priorities and planning committee, set to start at 4 p.m.

Gateway's senior vice-president and managing director Keith Andrews will in broad strokes lay out the company's expansion plans for London.

They include a $140-million expansion to Gateway's existing slots operation along with a plan to add more gaming tables, restaurants and a 120-room hotel.

Gateway is currently operating under a lease that expires in 2020 at a rate of$6.2 million a year. Company spokesman Rob Mitchell said Gateway needs alower lease rate to make the expansion viable.

He also repeated something Gateway has been saying for months: That they will move to another location in London if terms of the lease at the Western Fair District don't improve.

Mitchell said Monday'smeeting will be "a macro overview" of Gateway's plans and will offer a chance for councillors to ask questions. He said so far, the two sides aren't close to solving the lease issue.

"We've had discussions, but nothing has been finalized," he said. "We haven't got anything firm yet so we continue to look at other locations in London to build."