Ontario Casinos Want to Offer Free Drinks
At this time, players in Canadian casinos pay for their alcoholic drinks that they wish to consume while gambling. In other casinos, such as the Seneca Niagara Casino that is located just across the border from Canada in Niagara Falls, N.Y., players are given free alcoholic drinks. In an attempt to help boost the number of players at the Niagara Falls casinos in Canada, the Ontario casinos want the option to offer free drinks.
Will Ontario Casinos Offer Free Alcoholic Drinks?
Mayor Jim Diodati, the mayor of Niagara Falls, Ontario, is in favour of allowing the Niagara casinos to offer free liquor. He explained that the number of patrons at the Ontario casinos has dropped in the past few years. Mayor Diodati also noted that at the Seneca Niagara Casino in New York, about 30 percent of the patrons are Canadian, while at the Canadian Niagara casinos, only about five percent of the patrons are from the United States.
Mayor Diodati said: "There are free beverages on the U.S. side, whether they're alcoholic or non-alcoholic. I think it's something that needs to be looked at. We're saying to the government: Let's level the playing field and let the customer choose."
Mayor Diodati also noted that the issue was brought up a few years ago, but that at the time it did not progress, and because it is considered an important issue for the casinos, the subject has once again been brought up. He has suggested a trial period in which all drinks that are served, both those that are alcoholic and those that are not, would be free for those who are playing at Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino that are both located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, along with the Caesars Windsor. Caesars Windsor is located in Ontario across from Detroit.
Ontario Attorney General's Office Comments
The reply from the Attorney General's Office read as follows: "At this time, we will not be considering a change in policy on complimentary alcohol at casinos."
It was explained that according to the current law, in certain cases, complimentary alcohol may be served. However, this does not allow for casinos to serve free drinks to all patrons. The rules at this time sate that alcohol can be served for free by those establishments that have a liquor license for specific purposes, such as "recognising regular patronage, celebrating special events, expressing friendship, or acknowledging poor service." While it may seem that that would allow casinos to serve free alcohol, there is an additional point that notes that free alcoholic drinks can only be served in locations that restrict public access. This would allow free alcohol at VIP events, but not to regular casino patrons.
