THUNDER BAY - Three months after Gateway Casinos and Entertainment of Burnaby, BC officially began operating the Ontario government's OLG casino in Thunder Bay, the signage now reflects the change to private-sector ownership.
A work crew on Friday removed the old OLG signs on both the Park Avenue and Pearl Street sides of the building.
They replaced them with new signs saying "Gateway Casino - Thunder Bay".
The operation employs about 170 people.
Casino manager Bruce Iwasa said that celebrating Gateway's 25th anniversary in the same year the company takes control of OLG facilities in Thunder Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie is an important milestone for the business.
Under its agreement with the province, Gateway has committed to operate the facilities for 20 years.
OLG will continue to make the same quarterly revenue-sharing payments to the City of Thunder Bay, typically amounting to about $600,000 each.
Gateway also has licenses to build new casinos in Kenora and North Bay.
