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a Canadian f'f%L;, a Issue 53 October, 1998 Market pushing casinos to expand, broaden focus Shortly after we started our publica- the Belle, Rama and Niagara; tion in May of 1994, we got a tele- Quebec added Charlevoix and Hull; phone call from someone asking if Saskatchewan added Regina and they could subscribe for 6 months as four First Nation casinos, while opposed to our normal 12 month pe- Nova Scotia got Halifax and Syd- riod. When asked why, we were told ney. Ivan Sack they expected that by the end of 1994 All were stand alone casinos with, all the gaming news of consequence as the theory went, patrons rushing being given more freedom to respond would be out and there would no into the streets to attend conven- to the demands of the markets they longer be a need to follow this indus- tions, eat or buy slippers for granny. serve. try. We are pleased to say that this The initial public thirst for casinos firm is still a subscriber and, as read- Casino de Montreal was the first to was such that governments could add a 500-seat dinner showroom. ers will know, the news is certainly afford to let political posturing sus- not all out. Rama Casino followed suit by pend 'market realities'. They took adding a summer concert series, now As with industries such as telecommu- casino visitors in through their front in its second year with the likes of nications, auto, aerospace, computers doors, shook the coins out of their Paul Anka, Kenny Rogers, Aretha and software, our industry is con- pockets, and then pushed them out Franklin and Wayne Newton, and the stantly changing. The award of casi- their back doors and into the some- Rama First Nation announced plans nos to Windsor and Montreal was times waiting arms of local mer- to build an upscale hotel and a 3,000- simply the sprouting of seeds already chants. 4,000 seat indoor showroom adjacent sown by the Crystal Casino in Win- All was great until the realization to the casino. nipeg and charity casinos in Alberta set in that the public was not neces- and British Columbia. Winnipeg's Crystal Casino, which at sarily conforming to the script and one point was not even allowed to As our industry grew, roving charity that markets were not as secure as display an outdoor sign, is closing casinos became permanent charity thought. Many markets were not with Club Regent and McPhillips casinos. Alberta casinos were given being penetrated to the degree that Street Station in the midst of a $50 25 slots, then 50, 75, and so on until the bean counters had expected million expansion. An expansion we are at a point where there are now while high end players shied away which includes table games, grand 2,030 slots in 16 of that province's 17 when offered a comp at a mid- staircases, a forest of 35 foot palm casinos with progressives linking slots market hotel down the road. And trees, what has to be one of the largest across the province. while patrons frequently came in indoor salt water aquarium in British Columbia's privately run char- couples, there was sometimes little Canada, and rotating stages capable ity casinos have become government to interest the second person. of handling high-profile performers operated commercial casinos (figure What were deficit minded politi- and large back up groups. Watch also that one out) while that province's cians to do when told that their for a possible announcement related mountain valleys will soon echo to the model was not returning as much as to the construction of a hotel adjacent sounds of destination casinos with it could? They turned to the tried to Club Regent. convention facilities, health spas, din- and proven Las Vegas-model they Loto-Quebec has taken a 50% inter- ing, bingo and, oh yes - up to 300 slots had previously spumed. est in a group which purchased the and 30 table games each. With some of the posturing now set Manoir Richelieu, adjacent to Subsequent to Windsor, Ontario got aside, our casinos are increasingly Casino de Charlevoix The group will renovate and expand the hotel, Our new address: 1690 Truscott Drive, Mississauga ON L5J 126 add convention space, and double the Telephone and Fax numbers are unchanged size of the casino (see article on page -Page 2 Canadian GAMING News - 8). Also watch for Loto-Qudbec to announce, sometime this year, a $200 Casino Updates million plan to build a 500-room five- -- star hotel, golf course and a 1,200-seat Casino City Project Description entertainment complex adjacent to (ova Scotia Casino de Hull. Sheraton Casino Halifax Halifax $105 million casino to replace interim In Alberta, ABS is enlarging it's casino. Project on hold. To open Casino Edmonton to include addi- September 15, 1999 tional slots, tables, restaurants and , entertainment venue. The same ap- 2uCbec plies to the Golden Chance Casino, Casino de Charlevoix Point au Pic $140 million project includes doubling which is moving to a new facility size of casino, renovation of Manoir adjacent to a to-be-built 98-room hotel Richelieu. Completion June, 1999 and to the Gold Dust Casino which Casino de Hull Hull Anticipation of $200 million hotel, we hear will soon announce plans to expand its complex. htario We wrote last month of British Casino Rama Orillia $120 million hotel / conference / Columbia's Lake City Casinos hav- entertainment complex ing relocated its three Okanagan Val- Casino Niagara Niagara Falls +$SO0 million casino retail hotel ley casinos to resort hotels and of its complex / off-site attractions plans to build a fourth destination casino in the Penticton Lakeside Re- Charity Casinos Sault Ste Interim casino to open in Sault Ste sort and Convention Centre in Pentic- Marie, Point Marie. No decisions yet on size for Edward, any of the four facilities. ton. As well there are the four desti- Brantford, nation casinos to be built at Cran- Thunder Bay brook, Wells, Campbell River and Horse racing track slots the second casino for Penticton; the 18 locations I Windsor Raceway opens soon Riverboat casino out of Westminster, Manitoba and the casino aboard the Pacific Au- Club Regent 1 McPhillips Winnipeg Casinos doubling in size, introduction rora out of Prince Rupert. of table games, upscale dining facilities, And then of course we have the new, show stages. Opening springl99. Cost $50 million. $105 million Sheraton Casino Hali- fax (should construction resume); Uberta Falls Management's (Hyatt) new, Casino Edmonton Edmonton Gaming floor expansion, dining facili- +$500 million Niagara Falls casino ties, show venue complex and off-site attractions (see Gold Dust Casino St. Albert our Feature Interview); four addi- 1 Anticipated expansion Golden Chance Casino / tional Ontario casinos at Thunder Grande Prairie Will build new casino hotel complex Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Point Edward 3ritish Columbia (Sarnia) and Brantford; and finally, Royal Diamond Casino Vancouver Relocating to permanent facility the placing of slots at approximately Destination casinos Cranbrook $32 million complex includes casino, 18 of Ontario's horse racing tracks. 124-room hotel, conference centre, golf We wrote in our August issue of the course likelihood of the just completed Wells 1 $2.2 million casino in existing hotel Casino Windsor expanding west-ward Casino aboard Pacific Aurora across the street on to what is known Prince Rupert as the old market. A little more flesh Campbell $29 million complex includes 130-room River hotel, conference centre, entertainment was placed on the bones of this idea venue, 300-seat restaurant/lounge recently when Ontario Casino Corp CEO, Ron Barbaro talked about the Penticton $27 million Sodak Gaming project in- building of a second hotel tower and First Nation cludes 144-room hotel, golf course, banquet rooms additional gaming space on this site as being an important item on his per- City of $12 million Lake City Casinos project sonal agenda. Penticton includes casino, 55-room expansion to luxury hotel, roof-top restaurant / And someone really thought every- lounge thing would be out and over by the $1 0 million Star of Fortune Riverboat end of 1994! New Westminster Casino -Canadian GAMING News Page 3- THE TCS SHUFFLE STAR BRINGS A NEW DIMENSION TO CARD GAMES Wherever it's used the TCS Shuffle Star's The continuous shuffling process can exceptional performance never fails to increase revenue by gaining up to 20% impress. This new machine introduces a more playing time and increasing your higher efficiency and security into the hourly turnover. game. The TCS Shuffle Star has consistently Within it's discreetly designed body lies a proved its superiority to any other product unique combination of efficiency and following many successful installations in enhanced security that eliminates mis- Casinos worldwide. shuffling, card counting and shuffle tracking. For full details Email : tcsuk8tcsgroup.com 4LW YS P 3 ......................................................................... UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA LAS VEGAS MIAMI SOUTH AFRICA SPAIN TEL: 44-171-394-4000 TEL: 61 -2-9319-1633 TEL: 1-702-798-0500 TEL: 1-305-556-9413 TEL: 27-11-444-4745 TEL: 34-95-286-3957 FAX: 44-171-231-7414 FAX: 61-2-9699-9638 FAX: 1-702-798-0545 FAX: 1-305-556-9427 FAX: 27-11-444-4786 FAX: 34-95-282-8643 -Page 4 Canadian GAMING News - Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel. He also developed and owned Darien Lake Theme Park and the Buffalo Perform- ing Arts Centre. He will provide ad- vice and input on our amphitheatre plans. Sack: You say Snyder 'owned' What was announced Darien Lake.