Millions of people have visited an Ottawa casino since it opened its doors ten years ago.

A Canada casino has celebrated a decade in business, during which time it has attracted millions of visitors.

Rideau Carleton Raceway casino in Ottawa opened its doors for the first time on February 16th 2000 and has seen a minimum of 15 million people try their luck on its slot machines since then, reports CBC News.

Although the raceway itself has been open since the early 1960s, prior to 2000 it only offered horse racing and other sports betting.

The casino has managed to generate tens of millions of dollars in slot machine revenues over the ten-year period, with a payout of C$140 million in the 2008-09 financial year alone.

Doug Thompson, councillor of Osgoode, claimed that the casino and its slot machines have contributed C$35 million to the city while it has been in business, as well as helping to attract tourists and provide jobs.

"A majority of those are local employees and so a lot of their money goes back into the community as well," he said.

Earlier this month, mayor of Whitecourt, Alberta Trevor Thain told the local Star newspaper that the town's Eagle River Casino has proved to be a significant driver of tourists to the area since it opened two years ago.