Could the newly inaugurated Gordie Howe International Bridge, which links Windsor and Detroit, serve as a windfall for Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino?

“We've consistently faced challenges with the crossing experience, including tolls and traffic jams,” stated Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “By eliminating these obstacles and making travel genuinely simple and affordable for residents of Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo, we drastically change the situation. 
“A weekend getaway to Windsor will no longer feel like a complicated affair; it will become an obvious choice for visitors. That’s the transformative power of this bridge.”
Mayor Predicts Tourism Surge
In Ontario, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) oversees, conducts, and manages land-based casinos, which are operated through partnerships with private entities. Caesars has been managing the Windsor casino since 2008.
The new cable-stayed bridge spans approximately 2.5 kilometers across the Detroit River and features six vehicle lanes (three in each direction). Additionally, it includes a bike and pedestrian pathway, the only one available on a crossing of the Detroit River, which will significantly reduce congestion on the Ambassador Bridge, according to Dilkens.
This bridge is situated about six miles away from Caesars Windsor. Prior to this development, U.S. visitors would typically use the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge.
Enhanced Casino Accessibility
The Gordie Howe International Bridge directly connects to Highway 401 in Canada and Interstate 75 in the United States, offering improved highway access while alleviating congestion at other routes leading to the casino.
“For years, I’ve been asserting that this bridge is revolutionary for Windsor-Essex, and tourism plays a significant role in that narrative, even if it often goes unnoticed,” Dilkens stated. “It finally equips us with the necessary infrastructure to fully realize the potential of this bi-national destination.”
“Increased traffic flow in both directions fosters more vibrancy, heightened economic activity, and establishes a stronger destination on either side of the river.”
Opening Controversies
The $6.4 billion bridge's inauguration has been surrounded by controversies, particularly concerning revenue distribution between the Canadian and U.S. governments.
Canada held an opening ceremony on July 24, but a joint celebration with the U.S. was canceled following Washington's latest tariff threats on Canadian imports.
The bridge will implement tolls for both cars and trucks – a standard fee of CAD $8 for small to medium personal vehicles, CAD $8 for trailers, and CAD $6 via the Breakaway electronic toll system, with higher charges for larger commercial trucks.
Casinos' Revenue Insights
Caesars Windsor stands as one of Canada's most prominent casino resorts. The OLG offers consolidated reports on land-based casino revenues, although individual site data is no longer available since service providers gained control in 2016-17.
Quarterly payments to host municipalities, where casinos are situated, provide another lens into the financial performance of land-based casinos in Ontario, based on a tiered revenue scale.
Municipalities receive 5.25% on the initial $65 million of slot revenue, 3% on the following $135 million, 2.5% on the next $300 million, and 0.5% on any amount exceeding $500 million. Additionally, municipalities earn 4% of table game revenue (when applicable) and 4% of sportsbook revenue (when applicable).
Monitoring Casino Performance
As OLG representative Tony Bitonti highlighted, evaluating the casinos on an annual basis provides a more precise understanding of their financial performance, as quarterly payouts can be influenced by various factors like adverse weather or labor disputes.
“The dollar amount of these quarterly distributions can fluctuate throughout a year based on whether a site meets these revenue thresholds,” he elaborated.
For the first quarter of municipal payments (ending June 30, 2026), the City of Windsor received over CAD $3.2 million from the casino venue.
Detroit's trio of commercial casinos — MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino — are conveniently located near the U.S. end of the bridge, attracting Canadian gamblers looking to cross into the U.S.
Casino.org has reached out to Caesars Windsor regarding the bridge's opening but has yet to receive a response.