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Ontario Ends Niagara Casino Exclusivity to Add Operators

Quick Glance at the Facts

• On August 13, 2026, Ontario said OLG and MGE Niagara Entertainment reached a deal to let new casino operators into the Niagara Region.
• MGE, controlled by Connecticut-based Mohegan, gave up its brick-and-mortar casino exclusivity but will keep running Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara for OLG.
• OLG will launch a procurement process later this year to find new gaming operators for the region.

Ontario has cleared the way for new land-based casino operators to enter the Niagara Region after MGE agreed to give up its exclusivity rights. For players, this could mean more brick-and-mortar casinos to visit in Niagara Falls in the years ahead.

A Closer Look at the Niagara Casino Deal

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Ontario government announced an agreement between the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. that opens the region’s gaming market to more operators, according to CBC and The Canadian Press. MGE is the Mohegan-controlled company that runs Niagara Falls’ two land-based casinos, Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. As part of the deal, MGE agreed to remove its brick-and-mortar casino exclusivity within the Niagara Gaming Bundle while continuing to operate both casinos on behalf of OLG.

The move ties into the province’s Destination Niagara Strategy. CP24 reports Premier Doug Ford announced that plan in December 2025, hoping to double the number of visitors to the region. The plan aims to target 25 million annual visitors and $3 billion in added GDP for Ontario each year, alongside new casinos and other attractions. Doug Downey, Interim Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said in the government release that Niagara “has long been one of Ontario’s premier tourism destinations.”

Mohegan gave its own account on an earnings call. According to Canadian Gaming Business, the company said it agreed to “suspend and potentially terminate” its Niagara casino exclusivity in exchange for undisclosed financial considerations, and it also runs the licensed PlayFallsview online casino on Ontario’s regulated iGaming market. That online casino stays separate from the land-based casinos in this deal.

What’s Next for Niagara Casinos

OLG will start a procurement process later this year to find potential new gaming operators for the region, Covers reported. Duncan Hannay, President and CEO of OLG, said OLG and MGE are continuing their partnership and shared commitment to the Niagara community. New land-based casinos would still need to clear that process before any ground is broken, so players should not expect new venues to open right away.

How This Deal Impacts Players

Right now, nothing changes at the tables or slots in Niagara Falls, since MGE still runs Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. Over time, the end of exclusivity could bring more land-based casinos and more choice for players who visit the region. Ontario players who prefer to play from home still have plenty of regulated online casino options, which you can compare in our Ontario online casinos guide or across our wider Canada gambling hub, and these online casinos stay separate from the brick-and-mortar changes announced here.

GamblingNerd Take

Ending MGE’s exclusivity is a genuine win for Niagara players, because competing land-based operators usually mean better rooms and promotions than one company setting the terms alone. We’d still treat Ontario’s 25 million visitor goal as a multi-year payoff, not a 2026 one. Watch who OLG picks, and confirm any new venue holds an AGCO licence before you plan a trip to the Niagara region for a gambling getaway.