John Rose, near, laughs as he gets a little help from his wife Genest, after the slot machine at right spit out his wrinkled twenty dollar bill a couple times, during the grand opening of the Niagara Fallsview Casino in Niag Click on photo for larger image

New casino gets high marks
By Mark Scheer
Wednesday, June 09, 2026

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO - Yvonne and Fred Chambers used to visit Las Vegas two or three times per year.

After seeing the new Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort for the first time Tuesday, the Brampton, Ontario residents say they may just vacation closer to home this year.

“It’s just like being in the Bellagio in Las Vegas,” said Yvonne, pulling the handle on a Black & White Double Jackport slot machine. “They have done a wonderful job. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I didn’t think it would be as good as it is.”

The Chambers were among a group of more than 6,000 guests who were invited to the special preview night at the city’s newest casino resort, a $1 billion complex on Fallsview Boulevard, overlooking the Horseshoe Falls.

The majority of guests who turned out for the black-tie-and-dress affair had similar reactions to the facility which was designed by Bregman Hamann Architects, who also did Eaton Centre and Ontario Place in Toronto. The building’s Belle Epoque style features stone and other natural materials. The style was created by Dougall Design Associates, the firm that was responsible for the look of three casinos in Las Vegas, including Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the MGM and Luxor.

“I don’t need to go to Vegas because I can stay right here,” said Julie Maves, a Niagara Falls, Ontario resident who was enjoying a drink at the casino bar. “That’s the truth.”

Fallsview immediately becomes the largest casino in the Niagara region’s ever-growing gaming market. The facility’s 200,00-square-feet gaming area is about 95,000 square feet larger than the floor at Seneca Niagara Casino and is nearly double the size of the gaming space inside neighboring Casino Niagara.

In terms of gaming offerings, Fallsview has more table games, but about the same number of slot machines. Fallsview has 150 table games compared to 114 at Seneca Niagara and 123 at Casino Niagara. It has 3,000 slot machines as does Casino Niagara. Seneca Niagara Casino has about 2,900 slots.

Fallsview developers are hoping to lure many visitors who are interested in more than just gambling. The complex includes a 30-story, 368-room hotel, a spa and fitness center, restaurants, retail outlets and 1,500 seat theater known as the Avalon Ballroom, which was christened Tuesday by singer Paul Anka. The Barenaked Ladies, Steve Miller Band, Loretta Lynn and Julio Iglesias are scheduled to perform there in the coming weeks.

Katie Collins, a Niagara Falls, Ontario resident, said she’s excited about the venue’s ability to draw national acts to the area.

“I know I’ll be coming here a lot more,” said Collins, whose only other casino visit was to Casino Niagara.

While the majority of Tuesday’s guests hailed from Canada, at least one VIP from Niagara Falls, USA managed to make the guest list. Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello got his first glimpse of the resort Tuesday and said the presence of such a facility will help not only Niagara Falls, Ontario, but the American side of the border as well.

“This is what people want — so give it to them,” said Anello, when asked about the region’s expanding casino market. “They did it and they did it first class. That’s the secret. You can tell by doing what they’ve done here, they know the secret.”
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