Great Canadian Entertainment

Great Canadian operates 25 gaming properties in Canada, consisting of casinos, horse race tracks (with slot machines), and smaller-scale gaming centres. It also runs hotels, restaurants, and entertainment facilities associated with its properties. As of the third quarter of 2017, 67% of revenue was from gaming.[1] As of 2018, it had 9,400 employees.[2] In 2016, 61% of revenues were from British Columbia, 17% were from Ontario, 15% were from Atlantic Canada, and the rest were from the United States.[2] In total, Great Canadian properties include 16,000 slot machines, 386 table games, 80 dining establishments and 500 hotel rooms.[3]

In 2017, the company's gross gaming revenue was about $1.2 billion, with net earnings for 2017 of $85.7 million.[4]

The company was founded in 1982 as the Great Canadian Casino Company.[5] It initially operated charity casinos and a casino at Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition.[5] In 1986, it opened its first permanent casino in Vancouver.[5] It held an IPO on the TSX Venture Exchange in 1992, and renamed itself the Great Canadian Gaming Company in 1997.[5] In 2004, it listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.[5] In 2005, it acquired a number of casinos in Ontario and Nova Scotia.[6] As a result of these acquisitions, it breached debt agreements in March 2006.[7]

Great Canadian has been investigated for money laundering that allegedly took place at their River Rock Casino Resort.[8] The company has released a statement saying that it has followed all the necessary procedures.[9]

In August 2017, Great Canadian (in cooperation with Brookfield Property Partners) won a bidding process to take over the slots facility at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto from the OLG.[10] It also took over the slots at the Ajax Downs track and the Great Blue Heron Casino. The then-opposition Ontario PCs called for the deal to be halted due to the money laundering allegations.[11]

In December 2017, Great Canadian (in cooperation with Clairvest Group) won a process to take over four more OLG facilities.[12]

In January 2021, president and CEO Rodney Baker resigned after he and his wife were discovered to have booked a private plane to travel to Beaver Creek, Yukon and deceived medical personnel by saying they were local motel workers to obtain doses of a COVID-19 vaccine intended for the indigenous community.[13][14]

In September 2021, the company was acquired by Apollo Global Management in an all-cash deal and its shares were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange.[15]