Treasure Cove Hits Jackpot

By 250 News

             About a hundred people packed Prince George Council Chambers to hear details about the Treasure Cove Casino’s plans for increased slot machines and  a new show lounge.

Owner John Major says of the  players who are "signed up" with  his casino,  45% are from out of town.  

He says the request for more slots is largely based on  customer demand, he says "if more people were able to have access to slot machines on the  high use weekends,  then  more people  might come to Prince George."

Here is Major’s breakdown:

• 9% of the signed up  members are from out of Province or out of country ( 1,007)
• 36%  are from  places other than Prince George ( 4332)
• 55% are from Prince George (6467)

Prince George City Council has approved adding another 175 slot machines to the Treasure Cove Casino.  Council gave the request third reading  following  a public hearing that took nearly  three hours to complete.

The approval means the site will see a new show lounge built, a further 78 parking stalls added, ( bringing the parking stall total to 793) more landscaping and better noise buffers for the Van Bien neighbours.

According to the last  published annual report by  the BC Lotteries Corporation ( 05-06) the additional  slots will make the Treasure Cove one of the biggest slot machine casino spots in the province. 

1. Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam with 950 slots
2. River Rock Casino / Resort in Richmond with 918 slots
3. Gateway Casino in Burnaby   679 slot machines
4. Edgewater Casino in Vancouver with  600  slots
5. Treasure Cove Casino  with 575 slot machines

1. Langley,  22 slots per 1,000 residents
2. Quesnel 15 slots per  1,000 residents
3. Dawson Creek  13 slots per 1,000 residents
4. Cranbrook 12 slots per 1,000 residents
5. Prince George 10 per 1,000 residents tied with Terrace, 10 per 1,000 residents

In a letter submitted to Council as part of the public hearing package, Councillor Brian Skakun expressed concern over the short turn around in dealing with this issue.  There was a special meeting of Council on the eve of a long weekend, and the deadline for submissions was the day after the long weekend.  He was not able to  attend this evening’s public hearing.

There was one more letter , this one from Lyn Florey the Executive Director  of the Community Planning Council,  expressing concern about the speed of the process and  "the fact there has been no analysis on the social impact. We respectfully request the matter be tabled until a social impact assessment is completed."

The other letters in the  agenda package spoke in support of the proposal saying the Treasure Cove has been a “good neighbour” and residents on the other side of the “berm” have no concerns or objections to the request before Council.

There were letters of support from the Coast Hotel, Initiatives P.G. Tourism, The Days Inn, P.G. and District Building and Construction Trades Council,  International Union of Operating Engineers,  Bonanza Charities Association, Prince George and District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, The Elder Citizens Recreation Association,  the CNIB, The Prince GeorgeConstruction Association, the Shooters Bar and Grill,  B.X. Neighbourhood Pub, Lheidli T’enneh Band, United Native Nations, and The Prince George Metis Elders Society.

Speaking on behalf of  the applicant, L&M Engineering’s David McWalter says there are four  main benefits for  the approval:

1. It will create 30 new jobs adding to the 200 already employed by the Casino
2. It will create 40 construction jobs and $5 million dollars worth of construction
3. Increase City’s gaming revenue by  $1 million dollars ( approx)
4. Benefits for the Van Bien  neighbourhood,  through a sound retaining wall,  new sound retaining fence, and a landscape berm along Highway 16

John Major spoke on his own behalf  saying that  his company supports downtown "I believe  a revitalized downtown is a benefit to the entire city."  To that end he has promised support for a performing arts centre,  and if successful in his bid to buy the Days Inn, (he has offered $4.5 million to buy that hotel) will spend $1 million dollars on renovations to that hotel.

He also  told Council he is prepared to take the following two steps.

First, he will ensure the new show lounge with its larger stage,  improved sound and lighting, will be constructed first before  any slot machines would be  put in the space occupied by the existing show lounge. 

Secondly, he is   prepared to plant  the trees along Highway 16 this fall, instead of  having the City wait until two years to do that job, so the neighbours will have a barrier from the construction  and highway noise.

There is also a new  project  on the horizon to help those with gambling problems.  This fall, a special booth at the casino will be installed.  The Responsible Gambling Information Centre will be located in the main entrance and will feature a  responsible gambling officer during peak gambling hours.  It will also feature a tutorial, and a  self service terminal. Such information kiosks have been established at a couple of casinos in the lower mainland, and the BC Lottery Corporation is now in the process of installing such information booths at all casinos in the province.

Speaking against the increase in slots, resident Susan Seamans.  She says she feels disappointed, frustrated, powerless.  She  presented some recent articles which outlined  that  yes, some  gamblers are driven to  the depths of despair.  "But do we have to add to it?" she asked.  Seamans says  with only two counselors in Prince George to deal with  people who have  gambling addiction issues that  just isn’t enough.

The Ramada Hotel’s Manager, Steven James  also spoke in favour of the application saying the  Casino is good for business all over the city. "His is an attraction with a hotel attached."  James went on to praise John Major "Mr. Major operates a first class facility and is a credit to our community. I wish him success with his facility and I think it is a wonderful thing for our community."

Resident Bob Kiss eased any tensions in the gallery when  he  told Council " I’ve heard a lot here and not a lot makes be happy.  What I would really like to see is a good poker game.!"   The gallery burst into laughter.

He said "A good poker game is better than a slot machine,  all they do is yank, yank, yank, and they don’t you nothin. "  The gallery was still  laughing.  "So go ahead, put in as many  slots as you want,  I won’t go, but, if you  put in a good poker game,  I will be a good customer.’"

Here is how Council voted:

Shirley Gratton:  Yes. "Most seniors who do not drink or smoke use this as  a form of socializing."

Don Bassermann : Yes ;"There is  a great deal of support"

Don Zurowski: Yes  "As a land use issue  it was clear,  the site has capacity, but I have to ask how much gaming is enough? "  Zurowski says  having said that, he is not about to start regulating adult activities.  "It is about adults deciding what adults want to do for entertainment."

Glenn Moose Scott; Yes "I don’t want to ever turn down anything that will give our citizens the opportunity for employment."

Murry Krause:  Yes; "I think its important to acknowledge that whether we are looking at expanded alcohol sales or expanded gambling there are some who have problems and some who don’t that is not to be flippant, but that is important to know. I  think a deeper analysis is needed, and  I think it needs to be done soon.  We need to know where the province is going with gambling.  I know this project is right for the City, but  would like to know how we  will help those who have problems."

Sherry Sethen Yes : "On balance we re looking at a local business that is showing a faith and investment in our community....  A citizen  called me on another issues and said Sherry you are not elected to be our conscience,  don’t treat us like kids."

Deborah Munoz No : If I supported this,  I would be supporting a regressive  social policy.  I think the residents of Prince George want cleaner air, and not more slot machines.  " 4.6 % of the gambling public has a problem, and I cannot in good conscience add to that."

Mayor Colin Kinsley: Yes "People often ask why should I stop in Prince George,  they don’t want to hear about our lakes, our rivers, they want to hear about  places like the Treasure Cove.......Right or wrong, it is a revenue source for the City that helps us provide  services ....We are very, very lucky to have someone in our community (John Major) who says what he is going to do and does it."

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