Now that a major casino is off the table in Toronto, some believe it bodes well for London's chances to hit the a jackpot.
The city of Toronto has turned down an offer to be the host site of a major casino complex.
The OLG had said if Toronto bows out, casino expansion would target regions outside the provincial capital, with London being a preferred site.
Mayor Joe Fontana tells CTV News, under a new shared revenue deal municipalities would collect 4% of all table revenues.
Councillor Joe Swan says it's a jackpot worth chasing.
"I mean the premier was talking about giving the city of Toronto almost a $100 million to open a casino, I mean that was news to us here in London that you know they could get down payments of that magnitude," says Swan.
But not everyone believes such a gamble would reap the rewards some are banking on.
Recovering gambling addict George Ferreira says there's too much to lose.
"It's very easy to get addicted to gambling where it becomes sort of an industry up there to take everyone's money without them doing really positive things with their life or with their money or whatever," says Ferreira
Personal trainer Franklin Davis says the city needs to weigh social cost against economic windfall before placing its bet.
"When any idea that comes up that could potentially mean jobs or money then they jump at it. They don't necessarily take into account some of the other implications, how it may affect families, how it may affect people that live in that area," says Davis.
