18 years of a downtown casino

1993 |The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation selects a joint venture of Caesars World, Circus Circus Enterprises and Hilton Hotels to build and operate a state-owned casino.

1994 |Interim casino opens in September as Ontarios first casino (former Art Gallery of Windsor and spot of new art gallery).

1998|July 29: Permanent casino opens at 377 Riverside Dr. E. on Windsors riverfront overlooking Detroit's skyline, blocks away from the interim facility.

1999 | Three new casinos open across the river in Detroit, Mi.

2006 |Windsor casino opens Canadas first licensed sports book, but the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits betting on single sporting events.

May 2006 | Casino goes smoke-free to follow theSmoke Free Ontario Act

2007 | Harrahs announces it is rebranding thecasino,"Caesars Windsor,"after 14 years as "Casino Windsor." OLG announces a $400 million expansion.

2008 | June 19: Casino opens a second hotel tower, a 5,000-seat space for shows and 100,000 square feet of convention space.

2008 | Three Detroit casinos open new hotels to attract visitors

2012 | There are now 2,927 employees working at Caesars Windsor, down from about 5,000 employees at the peak of its business in 2000.