The City of Greater Sudbury is seeking input from its citizens about potential locations and complementary developments for an expanded casino in the community.

An open house will be held Oct. 10 at city hall from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by an informal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has adopted a new model for gaming facilities across the province which will transfer casino development and operations from the public to the private sector. The OLG initiative also ends a direct relationship between horse racing facilities and gaming sites.

“The new gaming model adopted by the province provides opportunity to our city,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk. “We encourage citizens to share their comments and ideas about potential locations for an expanded casino and complementary investments that could be packaged with an expanded facility.”

The OLG will issue a request for proposal this fall to pre-selected bidders for comprehensive proposals to develop casinos in 29 zones across Ontario, including Greater Sudbury. Ideas gathered during Greater Sudbury’s open house will be forwarded to the OLG for consideration during their review of development proposals.

The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation has held informal discussions with more than a dozen potential candidates in the private sector. Informal discussions have identified four geographical areas of interest: Sudbury’s south end, vacant lands east of the Kingsway, Sudbury Downs and downtown Sudbury. None of these areas has been approved or identified by council as a potential site for a future gaming facility.