Toronto city council voted 25-19 in favour of expanding gambling facilities at Woodbine Racetrack Wednesday.

At a meeting of the executive committee on June 30, a long list of speakers laid out gambling pros (increased jobs and economic spinoffs) and cons (the spread of gambling addiction). There were amendments including a request that Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation present a plan for its vision of the expansion, CBC's Makda Ghebreslassie reported.

The expansion means 300 gaming tables and another 2,000 slots will be added to the facility.

Mayor John Tory said before the last month's meeting that he supports bringing more gambling to Woodbine, because of the increased economic interest he believes it would bring to the area.

Tory calls the entertainment complex in the northwest part of the city a "catalyst" for other jobs in the area.

More gambling at Woodbine would serve to "attract jobs to a part of the city that desperately needs jobs," said Tory.

Officials at Woodbine say they need to expand beyond their core product, which is horse racing.

Jim Lawson, Woodbine's CEO, has said expansion could double the number of visitors to as many as 12 million a year.