Justin Picov, a member of the Picov family proposing to expand the Slots at Ajax Downs, listened to the public question period during an Ajax Council meeting.

© Jason Liebregts / Metroland

AJAX, ONT—NOVEMBER 20, 2015—The Town is raising the ante in the casino game. Ajax council’s community affairs and planning committee voted 7-0 to endorse official plan and zoning amendments that will allow the Slots at Ajax Downs operation to expand. While the municipality has given its approval, an expansion isn’t a given.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is in the midst of reorganizing the casino business in the province. The OLG is getting out of operating casinos all together, as it will have private operators take over the sites.

Ajax has been put into a zone with Pickering and Whitby, and the OLG will only allow one casino in each zone. Last year, Pickering approved a massive development proposal, called Durham Live, which includes a casino component. Whitby has passed a motion saying it would be a welcome host for a casino.

The operator won’t be known until 2017 and the selected operator will decide where it wants the casino.

The OLG has favored casinos that support a horse-racing track. Ajax Downs has featured Quarter-Horse racing since 1969.

Ajax Downs opened in 2006 with 250 slot machines, but it’s since grown to more than 800.

The OP and rezoning changes were requested by the Picov Holdings Inc. and Picov Cattle Co. The Picov family owns the site where Ajax Downs is located.

Justin Picov said the family has reached out to their neighbors and the community each time the slots were expanded.

“We’ve approached this next expansion in the same way. We have renewed our relationship with old neighbors and got the chance to meet new ones,” Mr. Picov said. “We have spoken with community leaders, local officials and neighbors to answer their questions and share our vision for Ajax Downs.”

With OP and zoning approvals in place, “Ajax Downs will have the framework required to proceed with expansion planning.”

The expanded site would be similar in size to Casino Rama, only without the hotel and 5,000-seat auditorium, he noted.

Mayor Steve Parish said “tonight feels like a love-in.” when compared to the time Ajax council approved the original slots application in the early 2000s,

When the slots were first approved, problem gambling groups and residents spoke out against the idea. However, in 2003, Ajax held a referendum on the proposal and a majority of voters supported a casino.

The referendum “gave us the strength to say the people want this,” Mayor Parish said.

Since the slots have opened, Ajax, as a host municipality, has received $56 million.

“It makes us the envy of our neighbors. That’s why Pickering is trying to steal this from us.

“And, this has a state-of-the-art horse-racing facility. This is just a win all the way around,” Mayor Parish said. The expanded site would have up to 2,500 slots and 120 gaming tables. Currently, gaming tables aren’t allowed. Planning and development director Paul Allore said, “Since the facility opened, it’s been seamlessly integrated into the Town.”

He added it’s a “major economic driver.”

If Ajax Downs isn’t chosen, it would eventually close, Town planner Geoff Romanowski said, adding the quarter-horse racing would also end.

Bradley Jacobson, the owner of the McDonald’s Restaurants in Ajax, supported the expansion. “The councillor did talk about the elephant in the room. If we lose this and it goes to Pickering, Ajax would be a significant loser. There’s the $7 million a year, the lost of jobs, 350, the loss of support to businesses, the loss of the horse-racing industry. It would be catastrophic for the Town of Ajax,” Mr. Jacobson said. “I believe strongly this is an integral part of Ajax.”

Keith Sarre, who opposed the casinos in the early 2000s, noted when the referendum was held, “20 to 30 per cent of residents weren’t even in the Town.”

Ward 2 local Councillor Renrick Ashby said during the election “this was not a hot topic. What’s not a hot topic is the manner in which this facility is run. I’ve never heard any complaints.”

Wards 1 and 2 Regional Councillor Shaun Collier said the facility has been open since 2006 and hasn’t received any complaints.

“I still haven’t received a negative comment on this facility,” he said.