Caesars Windsor

June 19 will be a mark a symbolic shift in the Michigan / Ontario casino market. On this day, the first non-Native American Casino brand in the market (Casino Windsor) will officially be rebranded as Caesars Windsor. This transformation has been several months in the making (December 2006) and will stake new territory for the Caesars brand, with this being their first Canadian property and also their first entry into the Michigan Casino market.

Several new developments have been added to the Windsor the property. The most striking additions being the new 27 story Augustus tower with its 369 luxury rooms and the 5,000 seat Coliseum Theater. In addition, the property 100,000 of convention space, which will give it a very large presence in the Michigan and Ontario convention landscape. The new additions give the property 758 hotel rooms and suites along with almost 100,000 in gaming space.

So what does this mean for Michigan Casino patrons? More competition for your gaming dollar? Not really, as Casino Windsor has existed since the casino has existed since 1994 and there isn't a material change in gaming activity. Ever since the exchange rate went south, the advantages to playing in Windsor has significantly deteriorated. Back in the day, a US resident could gamble for 65 cents on the dollar and a hotel room on a Friday night could be had for less than $100 USD. Nowadays, you're lucky to get a weekend room for less that $300 USD in the summer time. The 35% discount that was enjoyed when the USD to CAD rate was in the $0.65 range is ancient history. One real competitive advantage that the property does offer is their 'Legends Sports Book'. From a gaming perspective, is it a 'great deal'... No way. But it does offer the only on site legal North American sports betting outside of Las Vegas. But what do all of these changes mean?

Overall, the property upgrades are welcome as the physical property was approaching 10 years in age. But at the present time, to the Michigan Casino patron, Caesars Windsor, does not present any material advantages to venture across the border.