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BCLC needs to extend the collection of slots and tables on the Parq and Hastings Racecourse casinos
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The B.C. Lottery Company needs Vancouver to raise or amend its 13-year-old moratorium at the enlargement of gaming within the town.
In line with town’s basic supervisor of Arts, Tradition and Population Products and services Margaret Wittgens, there was fresh passion from the BCLC to make bigger playing on the town’s two casinos — Parq and Hastings Racecourse.
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“BCLC is seeking to expand gambling opportunities at the Parq and Hastings Racecourse casinos by potentially increasing the number of slot machines and table games,” Wittgens wrote in a document moving to council’s committee on coverage and strategic priorities on Would possibly 8.
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Lately, the Parq on line casino in Yaletown has 600 slot machines and 61 tables, pace East Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse has 446 slot machines and negative gaming tables. Parq has permission to perform 75 tables. Hastings Racecourse has lets in to perform 600 slot machines.
Within the 2022/2023 monetary yr town earned $7.2 million as its shorten of gaming income from the 2 casinos. That is poised at 10 consistent with cent of general gaming income and so adjustments every yr. In 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 the determine was once over $10 million, pace town earned not anything within the 2020/2021 yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The town reviews states that BCLC’s enlargement needs would carry an backup $2.5-5 million a yr into town coffers.
Lots of the playing income that is going to town comes from Parq (88 consistent with cent in 2022/2023).
Because of the BCLC passion, Wittgens and town supervisor Paul Mochrie are recommending council amend the moratorium to believe enlargement on the two casinos so long as BCLC supplies an have an effect on review at the proposed enlargement.
The moratorium was once authorized in April 2011, below former mayor Gregor Robertson, with the intention to get the provincial govt and BCLC to “undertake(s) a comprehensive public consultation on the issue of expanded gambling in the City of Vancouver.”
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“To date, the province and BCLC have not completed the work set out in the moratorium that must be completed before the moratorium ends, so the moratorium remains in effect in the city,” Wittgens mentioned.
Team of workers have get a hold of 4 choices for council to means the BCLC enlargement request. They’re:
Amend the moratorium to just settle for a ramification utility for one or either one of the prevailing casinos, accompanied by means of a condition, protection and financial have an effect on review.Carry the moratorium solely for unused and current casinos, accompanied by means of the have an effect on review.Retain the moratorium in playground.Direct workforce to govern and useful resource a complete review and research of the folk coverage implications of amending or lifting the moratorium and report to council.
Wittgens and Mochrie counsel council backs choice one as it permits council to believe programs most effective from current operations.
“Staff recommend Option 1, enabling council consideration of the impacts of individual applications brought forward to expand gambling in Vancouver, while restricting the scope of those requests to existing facilities,” the document states.
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In 2011, town unfavourable an utility for a 1,500-slot on line casino at the Vancouver waterfront.
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dcarrigg@postmedia.com
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