Its Big , Its Bold , And Its Beautiful

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 04:43 AM

Main entrance of the new Chances Gaming Centre in at 7th and Quebec in Prince George

Prince George, B.C. - It is Big, It is Bold and it is beautiful. The new Chances Gaming centre is set to open in the down town core later this week.

The sign in the entrace way reads:

" Whusahdel Hoh Tsuhoont’l " which is Lheidli T’enneh for "You have come here, therefore, we are glad."

The aboriginal themes are throughout the facility, from the totem pole in the main entrance, to the art that will adorn the walls.

( at left, a totem pole that stands in the entrance of the new gaming centre - photo opinion250 staff)

The cost of the new gaming facility is $15 million dollars and includes an underground parking facility that already has been oversubscribed as vehicle owners try to scramble for a warm facility complete with video surveillance to leave their vehicle .

The underground parking facility was funded by a $1. 5 to $2 million dollar contribution from the "Chances" gaming facility, and a contribution from the City of about $3 million. That money will come from the down town parking fund that will own and operate the parking facility.

There is already a waiting list for people who want to rent one of the parking stalls.

Inside the gaming centre, you are greated by a wall which features three elements, earth( rock) fire, ( gas fireplace) and water, in the form of a waterfall.

John Major, who along with his wife Shelly, owns the facility feels the new centre will be a positive addition for the down town. Major says "We have taken a year to build the new gaming centre, and we are very proud of it. "

(at right, bingo terminals along the tables and major screens in the background to verify numbers called - photo Opinion250 staff)

Chances will feature new virtual flash boards that will show every number that is called instantly. Major say there are only a few such boards in not only BC but in all of Canada.

The facility boats 30,000 sq ft with an entrance that features a totem pole standing over 9 meters high along with native and local artists from around the province and western Canada.

(at left, Shelly and John Major look at some of the local and Aboriginal art which will be displayed at the new gaming centre photo Opinion 250 staff)

The art collection includes some pieces the Major’s have treasured for years says Shelly "We have had a number of people over the years paint some pictures of scenes that they liked most and we will be able to show them in the new facility."

The new “Chances" will have the ability to have 650 bingo seats for special events, but will normally operate about 300.

It also will have 79 slot machines to start; the company is licensed to have 100.

Neighborhood businesses say they are looking forward to the new facility, saying it is a nice new addition which should go along way to helping improve the down town.

At the same time John Major says that while he did make an offer to purchase the Days Inn hotel next door with a view to having the hotel tied in with the new bingo facility, the deal was never finalized "The owners of the hotel and I could not come to an agreement" says Major .

Major says the gaming centre has been set up with a certain familiarity for the staff and customers of the Good Time Bingo hall. The facility also features a small stage for special events, and a bistro section which will have seating for 30-40 people.

The Chances Gaming centre officially opens to the public at noon on Thursday March 26th.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 04:43 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: whitewater on March 25 2008 5:19 AM

Wow....This is the best thing ever....What is Prince George going to do with all the new rich people that win at bingo? Who needs a job when you can make your money at the casino or at this bingo hall....save me a seat!

Posted by: acrider54 on March 25 2008 5:43 AM

Spaceship crash lands on tax collector building.

Posted by: gitterdun on March 25 2008 5:48 AM

I'm having a really hard time finding the aboriginal theme in that entrance. I actually thought the article would be about some new attraction at Disney! The purple stucco on the other casino always looks like it should be in Orlando so I guess why not Disney with this one?

Posted by: lunarbase on March 25 2008 6:13 AM

So where is the townhouses that was promoted as being part of this building and helping to bring some new housing to downtown ? Oh right, dangle that in front of people, wait till building under construction and tell people, whoops kind of missed that part.

Posted by: Foo738 on March 25 2008 6:19 AM

More addiction problems for people.

Posted by: BCRacer on March 25 2008 7:20 AM

Yes, big, bold and it is going to destroy more and more lives...
Way to go Mr Major and city council of PG .....
Oh right you have a cutsie little catch phrase...

"Know your limit, play within it"...
if they knew their limit and could play within it you wouldn't be using this wonderful little feel good statement...

my opinion....

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 25 2008 7:36 AM

$15,000,000 petty cash.

No more bingo's in church basements, this is big business.

Posted by: Foo738 on March 25 2008 7:40 AM

Yes Yama. You bet it is.
It preys on peoples' weaknesses and causes
many social problems.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 25 2008 7:49 AM

I haven't been in the PG Casino either, but I hear it's nice. I don't have any trouble spending my money so why go there.

The new addition to that casino cost millions as well. Wonder how long it took to be paid off?

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 8:01 AM

I like it! I may not go but a new bingo hall was long overdue.
People have choices....you choose a game of bingo over buying milk and bread for your babies then the problem goes deeper than an addiction to bingo.

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 8:36 AM

At least something, finally, is downtown and will attract people. This may open up the opportunity for other businesses to benefit as well. More traffic - isn't that what our downtown needs?

Just because someone might play bingo or go to the casino does not mean they are not providing for their family and are gambling addicts. I know many people who might go out for dinner, go to the casino and drop $20 and go home. I'd rather go to the casino and play than go dancing at a bar or pay $30 to go to a movie that I can rent for $5. Has anyone been to any of the shows that play in the showroom? Blues Underground presents phenomenal entertainment once a month and there are so many other shows that take place there that are just excellent. This new bingo hall also has a showroom... very nice.

Not everyone who goes to the casino for casual fun once in a while is a gambling addict, just like not everyone who goes to a pub is an alcoholic.

Sure, there might be more preferable ideas out there for our downtown, but I think it is at least a start.

Just my opinion.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 25 2008 8:55 AM

The B.C.government likes these places a lot!
Obviously PG council does too.
This way,the the government knows damn well they will get a large part of the welfare money back!
Now ain't THAT a win/win situation!
It really is a wonderful thing when you hand cash money to addicts,alcoholics,and drug dealers (yes,dealers collect welfare too) with absolutely no supervision or responsibility.
I am so proud.
Especially the part about the first nations theme...I bet they are proud too!

Posted by: thereasonableman on March 25 2008 9:31 AM

" Whusahdel Hoh Tsuhoont�l " which is Lheidli T�enneh for "You have come here, therefore, we are glad."

Wow, that's deep. Couldn't we have just gone with "Thanks for bringing us your money" ?

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 9:41 AM

lol....THanks for bringing us your money could be used for everything these days...gas, take out food, movie theatre, blah blah blah..
It gives people something to do that doesnt involve drinking/smoking anything and they wouldn't go if they didn't want to. They have a choice to keep their money in their wallets or gamble it away. People need to toughen up if they feel so weakened by the calling of bingo ball O 66.

Posted by: billposer on March 25 2008 9:52 AM

What's with the totem pole? Totem poles are not part of Carrier culture - they're from the coast.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 25 2008 9:53 AM

Heidi,I think you really need to give some thought to your last post!
We are talking about people's lives being destroyed here, just so someone can make a buck.
And a lot of people DO go even if they don't want to...they can't help themselves because gambling is an addiction!
And when low income people blow what little money they have on trying to win the dream,...then what?
Living in an Overwaitea buggy under a piece of cardboard perhaps??
So who feeds and clothes the kids?
The B.C.government supports gambling...that in itself is a disgrace!

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 9:54 AM

Exactly - the movie theaters are raking in our dough via the entertainment and the concession - we have the choice to go or not to go. The night clubs in town take money at the door - cover charge...for what? A DJ and a dance floor and if you choose not to drink and wish to have water or a soft drink, they charge you an arm and a leg. Concerts in this town are overpriced and the average family cannot afford to go and see a quality show at the Multiplex. Hockey games aren't cheap either. Man - we even had to pay to see Christmas lights in a park this past winter.

Everyone is grabbing our money and people on welfare or social assistance who have addictions or whatever other problems can / will spend their money on booze, drugs and cigs anyway - the presence of a casino or bingo hall is not going to make a difference. There was already a bingo hall in place - now it is cleaned up and has more to offer - and if people want to gamble - there is already a casino in town... so why not attract these people downtown and benefit other businesses and opportunities?

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 9:59 AM

The government also supports alcohol sales and cigarette sales. I agree that gambling CAN be an addiction, but it isn't for everyone. People who like to go out and have fun should be able to. If I wish to purchase a bottle of wine to go with dinner, I should be able to, even though there are many people out there how are alcoholics.

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 10:06 AM

Posted by: ammonra on March 25 2008 10:20 AM

So what would be the alternative to opening the new casino? Should it be refused a license because some people are gambling addicts?

I do not understand why everyone who is not an addict should be targeted because of a few who are. Surely targeting the addicts with special programs paid out of the taxes from the casino would make more sense, and probably be more effective.

Using the same logic, protection of addicts, would mean closing every pub in the city so alcoholics couldn't drink? Is that also being recommended by opponents of the casino. If it is not, what is the basis for their double standard? Both activities, gambling and drinking, are legal, after all.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on March 25 2008 10:41 AM

Hell must be frozen over, I agree with Ammon!

Posted by: Harbinger on March 25 2008 10:56 AM

If that is aluminum all over the entrance, all I can say is Wow! Have you priced plain old aluminum railing for your deck? Shoulda been gold. Almost as expensive. To me anyway. Gonna punish the losers at the casino and make them polish it fer a roll of quarters so they can win back their money? Now there's an idea.

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 10:56 AM

I don't know Andy I guess i'm a strong believer of Mind Over Matter. The choice is there. :) People need to take control of themselves.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 25 2008 10:58 AM

Betcha John Major played the game Monopoly a lot when he was a little kid. Wish I did.

Posted by: red2b on March 25 2008 11:11 AM

"Betcha John Major played the game Monopoly a lot when he was a little kid."
...and govenor Eliot Spitzer played 'spin the bottle'!

Posted by: Junco on March 25 2008 11:40 AM

20 years ago if someone had told me that 90% of our pine trees would be killed by pine beetles and the downtown core would be defined by a bloody Bingo Hall/Casino i would have thought they were nuts. Here we are in 2008 and some people think that the new Carnival house on 7th avenue is something to be proud of and tout it as something special in our midst. The pine may be dead and dying that is a fact, but no one is ever going to be able to convince me that a Casino is going to improve the downtown. I think the building is an absolute eyesore and it would be easier for me to admit that the Emperor is wearing clothes than to say that a Casino is "a good thing".

Posted by: thereasonableman on March 25 2008 12:23 PM

I guess it's no different than having a pub on every block.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 25 2008 12:25 PM

Take a look at Richmond B.C.and see how much the crime has increased since the casino was built.
Go ask the people who live around there.
The two go hand in hand, so there is no point in whining about the increase in crime if this is the kind of business that the downtown core attracts.
A friend of mine in Richmond recently retired and moved after 40 years there.
Why?
As he put it.."if I wanted more crime I would have moved to downtown Vancouver in the first place"!
Casino's are a fact of life in many communities and sure,they do provide some minimum wage jobs,(which does seem a bit odd when you consider the profits they make) but that still doesn't mean they are a GOOD thing!
There is a certian undesireable element that comes a long with them that is not exactly what they advertize!
So be it I guess.

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 1:40 PM

I do agree to a point - there is an undesireable element that goes along with it, however, this is the only thing that has actually come to a reality - no one else wishes to take a chance on our downtown - it has turned to trash without the help of any casinos in the area. At the very least, perhaps the show lounge will offer something more for the rest of us to enjoy and perhaps a new restaurant or two will move in downtown somewhere. I'd like to think that even one attraction located downtown may offer some incentive for more.

Since the Treasure Cove opened, has crime in the area increased? I know residents weren't / aren't happy with it, and that is understandable since it has been built so close to residental areas, but I'm curious if the actual crime rate in the surrounding neighborhoods has increased at all. I have no idea about this and would love some info.

Posted by: metalman on March 25 2008 1:44 PM

Government approved decay of society, along with the proliferation of payday loans, pawnshops, liquor stores, casual acceptance of drug abuse. We are seeing only increases in the above, plus the inevitable violence that follows close behind the drug trade. Some say "it's our right to choose, don't punish those of us who don't have a problem" they are missing the big picture, in my opinion. I can see the gradual but ever increasing erosion of moral standards occuring. Believe me, I am not about to begin advocating for any sort of doctrine to be imposed upon us, because I believe in and will vigourously defend the freedom we currently enjoy. My belief is that we will all find what we want, eventually, be it good for us or bad for us. Let's stop serving up temptations on a silver platter, what we have is a veritable smorgasboard for the weak willed. Ever tried to resist something really tasty and decadent while on a diet, when it is placed right under your nose, when you don't even have to go and look for it?
metalman.

Posted by: tinyapplecork on March 25 2008 2:00 PM

Is this place wheelchair accessible? Can't tell from the picture. If it isn't, that is very poor planning considering our demographics.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 25 2008 2:28 PM

Well said metalman...well said!

Posted by: Junco on March 25 2008 3:27 PM

Hear, hear Metalman.

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 4:12 PM

I see that point too. Oh ugh I feel another life story coming out now look what you made me do.....but when I turned 19 all we did was go to the bar, work next day, go out to the bar..so on and so on. Well my friends and I started to really get sick and tired of the same old garbage of bar life so we turned to going to bingo. We went quite a bit, went home sober, got up went to work and actually functioned. We had something else to do in our lives in P.G. Then I had my son and BAM priorities kicked in...sorry girls I choose to stay home with my baby but you all do what you have to do. :)

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 4:21 PM

p.s a new bingo hall isn't top on my list of new buildings to build in our city btw but its here and I find it harmless compared to a lot of other things going on under our noses.

Posted by: NMG on March 25 2008 6:08 PM

What's that sucking sound I hear? Oh that's right, it's more money being drained out of the PG economy. This is our skytrain folks, an express line that takes our money straight to the Provincial coffers. Money that would've been spent on burgers, hockey games, televisions, green fees, fishing rods, etc. Sure there will always be the hardcore gamblers who would've travelled to gamble if these facilities weren't here, but they are the minority.

Oh sure, people always have a choice about where to spend their money, and we shouldn't dictate that to people, but our City leaders also have the ability to choose what sort of projects they approve. Like I said, you can't dictate to adults what they can spend their money on, but you also can't act like a 7 year old and act like these types of establishment bring no negative consequences into the community. They bring significant baggage with them and our City has allowed TWO OF THEM TO BE BUILT! It's pure insanity, but that's about par for the course for this City in recent times.

Posted by: REALIST on March 25 2008 7:04 PM

Gambling has always been listed as a vice. No amount of glossing over this fact will change it and any society that thinks it is O.K. is in big trouble. Oh yeah we already are ion big trouble. guess this is just another sign that society is crumbling.

Posted by: Eagleone on March 25 2008 7:09 PM

I think NMG is right on the money with that post.

IMO I would go further and say that gambling is a worse addiction (dangerous to health (social and physical) and finance) than pot smokers, or even to get more extreme, its worse than alchoholics and yet only two of the three can generate government revenue, so that is how government sets policy in allowing us our freedoms. Someone spoke of freedom rights, but I don't buy that arguement.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 25 2008 7:31 PM

Indeed Eagleone!
A very good post by NMG!
And REALIST hits pretty close to the mark as well!

Posted by: Palopu on March 25 2008 8:26 PM

That is one ugly building, beauiful it is not. Gambling Casinos should be discribed as sleezy at best. A number of years ago it was illegal, but thanks to the NDP now it is not.

These Casinos suck big dollars out of the Community.

The people who gamble and lose money on a regular basis, are the common working man/women, house wives who go shopping and then slip into the Casino and gamble. Men do the same. Also a lot of pensioners who can ill afford to lose money.

You might as well sit down and write a cheque to Gordon Campbell and go about your business.

Prince George City has received $16 Million from Gambling since 1999

Major would have received a lot more, and the Provincial Government more yet.

Obviously people are losing money big time. If they were not, there would be no Casinos.

Posted by: bohemian on March 25 2008 9:09 PM

It's too bad the building is dead. Again, another downtown building has no "street life" - walk around the building and there is nothing but blank walls.

Where is the design panel, and do they even show up for meetings? And when they do, what do they use as a standard?

What a waste.

Posted by: getajob on March 25 2008 10:32 PM

Headquarters of the downtown ghetto.Way to go City of PG.

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 25 2008 10:33 PM

Yes gambling is an ugly addiction but you hit rock bottom with gambling you lose a lot but hopefully learn from it, hopefully become more responsible, and hopefully learn what really matters in life. Pot smoking addiction....ahh good luck! Alcoholics keep driving drunk...die younger than necessary with failed livers and what have you. Heavy drug addictions even to painkillers to me I think of hitting the rocks in the bottom of the grave. When I see the new liquor stores on what seems like every corner that's what gets me mad. Or the grow op. down the street getting business while kids play in their front yards...even worse. Bingo sure can get nasty at times i'm sure but you can only throw so much money away each time you go...the casino I find a nastier place and is where the bigger bucks are lost. The bingo hall I found also is where a lot of seniors can go where they can sit with family/friends in a safe place and enjoy themselves. Just don't talk too loud because they'll yell at you :)

Posted by: thereasonableman on March 25 2008 11:25 PM

I guess what it comes down to is, "A fool and his money are soon parted".

Whatever the case, people without the disposable income to spare are still going to engage in activities that were intended for people who have some disposable income.

They didn't build it with that intention in mind, it's just what happens with people.

Posted by: pgduchess on March 26 2008 8:14 AM

Unfortunately many of the not-for-profit organizations rely on bingo/gaming funds to support their programs and services.

Posted by: Eagleone on March 26 2008 8:32 AM

I figure this casino is the equivilent to the cummunity of closing one large saw mill when one factors in the loss of equivilent income that would otherwise be spent in the local economy.

Posted by: Rounder on March 26 2008 8:55 AM

What's more attractive; vacant, run down buildings downtown or new development? This is a start,even if it is a bingo hall. It looks a lot better than the previous ones downtown. How many new "bingo" addicts will this attract? Probably no more than there already is in this town.

Posted by: owl on March 26 2008 9:46 AM

"so why not attract these people downtown and benefit other businesses and opportunities?"

Have you followed the typical binog player around? What other downtown business are they benefitting? North 54? Chimo? The White Goose? Jordie's Lounge? The Shogun?

Maybe a new pizza by the slice place can open up. The one accross the street from Hollywood Casino went broke when the casino closed. Maybe a new location for a hot dog wagon?

Don't forget, the existing Casino IS downtown already. This is just an indicator of the amount of money those who frequented that spot spent and put into the pockets of the business owner.

The other interesting thing is that I was under the impression that the parkade was to be used for those who used the casino/ bingo parlour. So, those people whoi drive and use the new facility will be parking behind the Days Inn? The street? The pool/civic centre/gallery parking lot?

Posted by: owl on March 26 2008 9:53 AM

"That is one ugly building" ... you got that one right! All the building walls are ugly. It is what is called Kitsch and suits exactly what goes on inside.

The reference to the inappropriate use of the Totem is also bang on. We have not unearthed one yet in this region. But it looks like people here 300 years from now will not know any different. In fact, it might become a museum piece and get a wonderful story attached to it about the tranfer of the coastal First Nations culture to the interior.

;-)

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 26 2008 10:43 AM

Agreed owl...a VERY ugly building!
And you are also correct about the totem pole.
Anyone who has ever attended a pow-wow or a native dance contest has seen the teepees,the elaboarate costumes etc.
Why would a first nations dancer the coast wear a costume traditionally worn by natives in the southern U.S. when performing?
Why would coastal natives set up teepees that were never used here in B.C.?
Natives use many traditional ceremonies that have no part in the culture from their own territory.
I am just not sure why, when they are usually so strong on their own personal cultural issues?
Smart marketing?
Exploitation of the culture in general?
I would think they would be more loyal to their OWN individual cultures, and I also think the casino really screwed this one up!
Perhaps they should have asked a native person about what was traditional here?
Obviously the casino owner wants to attract as much native business as they can,but implying that they actually give a damn about native culture is an insult to native people!

Posted by: diplomat on March 26 2008 10:47 AM

I think it looks alright, neither ugly nor beautiful and certainly different! It may look even better in the nighttime so I think I will drive by when its dark and get a glimpse!

It certainly may entice some visitors who are looking for something to do (after checking into one of the downtown hotels) to go out and spend a few bucks there, having a good time!

Casinos are now a fact of life - even Terrace is getting slot machines now - and those who wish to use them have the opportunity and every right to do so!

Its a brand new building and the downtown needs more of them!

What about that project on the corner of 7th Avenue and Victoria Street, Mr. Backlin?

Posted by: owl on March 26 2008 12:13 PM

Now there would be a nice building based on the picture. The use type is also very appropriate. As far as the housing component goes, it is right on the edge of the DBIA part of downtown and in some ways, not much different from what I still consider to be the nicest "walk-up" condos in town, certainly in downtown, the building on 6th and Vancouver.

As far as the casino goes, as someone said, the spaceship has landed. It landed betwen roque applique walls on baby blue stucco and has deposited the requisite out of context totem and scattered so called artwork ..... it would even be out of place in the billion dollar Kitsch of most of the Vegas properties.

http://flickr.com/photos/milliped/2214934841/sizes/m

They should have taken a look at SPEEDEE's redone storefront to get some local inspiration.

;-)

Posted by: govsux on March 26 2008 12:19 PM

while casino revenues to owners trend up on a steep curve (is Mr. Majors new home the first in PG to hit over the $million mark?) the revenue on a percentage basis to needy causes is trending down. If you're gonna let people pi$$ away their money shouldn't it go to a good cause?

Posted by: heidi1555 on March 26 2008 1:20 PM

Now that you mention that govsux didn't proceeds go towards certain charities from the bingo hall and what if any is now? I don't remember as i've chosen to go twice only in the past 12 yrs. Hopefully a decent contribution to deserving charities. You know what building i'd love to see high on the list of improvements being made is the library and it's pond puddled parking lot. It's nice to see Dutchess Park get a makeover. I'd also love to see the harness style seatbelts added to school buses for the icy highways of the north before a new bingo hall but it's here and just do what you gotta do with it.

Posted by: getajob on March 26 2008 1:33 PM

This building did nothing great to enhance the downtown core, and the business that it attracts is a conversation of its own.

How many more children will need to wait outside, or in the car, while mom and dad put in a shift gambling away the food/rent money?

The whole theme is nothing more than mythical made stories that bare no proof of its origin...

Walt Disney had the same vision and he called it �Fantasy Land�

Posted by: elanke on March 26 2008 8:05 PM

Only in Prince George? Our City is run by a realtor who has never submitted his name as a candidate, as result of an unholy allegiance with our now-mayor, which started in the 1970's in the offices of Yellowhead Realty. Sad, but true. Think of it everytime you see things that "happen" in the name of lining the pockets of a certain group of people (at the expense of others and the good of the city and its citizens as a whole).

Posted by: Palopu on March 26 2008 8:16 PM

There is no **Big** money in Bingo. The long term strategy of putting Slot Machines in Bingo Halls is to get Bingo players to play the machines, and this will happen. Within a year or so Bingo will be considerly downsized, or gone altogether. The 79 slots will have been increased to 100 and they will probably be approaching BCLC to increase the number of slots.

The charities have been bought off with a few gambling dollars, however if you get to the point where there is no Bingo, then the next step might be **no dollars**

Posted by: pgproud on March 26 2008 9:33 PM

Seriously all other issues aside....Baby blue stucco? It's as bad as peach vinyl siding!

Posted by: Harbinger on March 26 2008 10:42 PM

Aboriginal theme throughout? If I drop in I will look forward to seeing maybe some teepees, a birch bark canoe, maybe dealers wearing buckskin and maybe a mural depicting buffalo being stampeded. Oh yes, feathers.