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Slot machines have been good to the Elora, Ontario.  They have been operating at the Grand River Raceway since 2003.  Since then the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp have collected nearly $150 million is slot machine revenue.  Now the raceway would like to add an extra 20 to 30 slot machines to collect more profit.  A date has yet to be set for Centre Wellington to vote on the issue.

Before the Grand River Raceway was opened, a by law set a limit of 200 slot machines.  In order for the raceway to place more slot machines on the floor they have to change the bylaw. 

Fred Morris, a Centre Wellington Counselor, has entertained the idea of doing away with the slot machine cap completely.

Ted Clarke is the General Manager of the Grand River Agricultural Society, the company that owns the raceway.  He told Morris, “Perhaps you can see the future better than I can.  Every time we do this we re-create some feeling of unease or whatever, within the community. I'm not sure that your suggestion is one that in the long-term serves the better interest of this development, or the community for that matter.”

David Copp, a resident of Salem, stood in opposition of the proposed change, because there is no clear indication of how many slot machines would be added to the raceway.

“The whole thing has reached a point where we have to take a stand,” said Copp.

“Before long there will be a request for a casino. A deal is a deal, and those people agreed to 200 slots.”

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