Canadian Gaming News
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8'3/V-2c^ Canadian Gaming News,. Issue 62 July, 1999 Second generation casinos opening across Canada On June 24, 1999 and five years to the themed casino. Club Regent is an day that the Societe des casinos du elaborate tropical setting complete Quebec first opened its small casino with thatch covered bars, a forest of (289 slots, 13 tables) at Point au Pic, it 30' palm trees, a 100,000 litre sea has opened what qualifies as Canada's aquarium, Mayan ruins and a four premier gaming property. Premier if a story high waterfall cascading past luxury hotel complete with copper visitors as they descend through cat- Ivan Sack roofs and rooms up to $450 / night, acombed caves to enter the casino's with signed agreements, are taking haute cuisine, what is recognized as lower level. casino gaming there a giant step for one of the ten best golf courses in ward - Star with riverboat casino to Canada, an elaborate health spa, a McPhillips Street Station Casino is themed Olde World colonial with be part of a larger hotel and confer finely appointed gaming floor and a ence retail complex, and Lake City in view of the St. Lawrence which, when spacious foyer, white gaming floor columns; broad Scarlet O'Hara a partnership with an established re taken from the bluff upon which the sort and conference centre. complex is located, extends for 10 staircases, ornately painted ceilings miles, is to count for anything. The and the first amusement ride to be We could add Niagara Falls' new cost? $140 million or the total cost of found in any Canadian casino - The casino complex and the soon-to-be- hosting the PanAm Games in Win Millennium Express, a 3-D journey announced (now that an agreement nipeg this summer. though Manitoba's past and on into has been reached with the National its future. One sits in a railway car Capital Commission for a golf And in Winnipeg later this month, the and travels back in time to the ice course) expansion to Casino de Hull Manitoba Lotteries Corporation age and then forward to the forma to our list of new generation proper will close its Crystal Casino and open tion of landscape, the beginnings of ties. expanded gaming floors at McPhillips First Nations people, the Selkirk Street Station and Club Regent. To Settlers, the building of modern day While political saw-offs in say expanded gaming is an understate Winnipeg and on into the future Saskatchewan, for example, where ment in that with the opening of these until, suddenly, the car's sides and the four native casinos want to ex properties, Winnipeg will have two of roof are lifted away and its riders pand their slot operations but are re the most exciting casinos in the coun are floating though space. Total stricted to the same number of slots as try. Club Regent Casino will easily cost for the two casino expansions Casino Regina which does not want lay claim to the title of Canada's most is $66 with MLC saying everything to expand, still distort market dynam is within budget. ics, this is becoming more the excep tion than the rule. Casino Edmonton, still technically No August Issue a charity casino, wisks patrons to Stand-alone casinos - the all gain, reduced pain casino model preferred After writing 62 monthly issues of and from its gaming floor in a stretch limousine while White Bear by governments across the country Canadian Gaming News and only short years ago, are rapidly be organizing three Canadian Gaming Casino and Lodge, in southern Saskatchewan, offers its patrons coming footnotes to the past. In their Summit & Exhibitions, our editor, overnight accommodation consid place we find 'casino complexes' and Ivan Sack is taking a vacation. ered the best in that region and staff governments more at ease with gam There will therefore be no August who almost gush in an effort to be ing - or at least more comfortable taking the routine knocks associated issue of CGN though, as usual, you helpful (talk with them as we did). with gaming - realizing that they have will receive our September issue at In British Columbia, Star of For even more to gain by playing to mar the beginning of that month. Have tune and Lake City Casinos, the ket forces than by challenging them. a safe and enjoyable summer! two destination casino operators Las Vegas here we come! Page 2 Canadian GAMING News - are taken to ensure the integrity of Casino approved, this industry but we do question the $600,000 Slot merits of Glasgow not being al Glasgow on hold lowed to sell his shares. To the best Progressive On June 24, 1999 Lake City Gaming of our knowledge he is a person of The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Corp and the British Columbia Lot demonstrated integrity (or he would Authority's 'Smoke Signals' slot tery Corp signed agreements not already be licensed) and BCLC, progressive jackpot has reached whereby Lake City will own and oper by requiring that everyone purchas $600,000. To win, you must play two ate a casino with 16,500 sq ft of gam ing 10% or more of his shares be $1 coins. A quick check of our major ing (240 slots, 20 tables) on the sec approved by it, could have also en casinos indicates that while this is an ond floor of the Penticton Lakeside sured that he was replaced, as astonishing sum for a Canadian slot Resort & Conference Centre in the owner, by reputable new owners. progressive when compared to largest City of Penticton. As part of Lake So why then restrict what is a nor City's arrangement with the resort, the mal market dynamic - simply be jackpots of $240,000 for Casino resort and Lake City will spend $15.5 cause Glasgow was going to be Rama; $100,000 Casino Windsor and million to renovate what will be the granted a gaming licence which $160,000 at Casino Niagara, it is not resort's gaming area as well as build a would have made his interest in the the largest. new health spa and indoor pool, ex company worth more? This prize goes to Casino de Mon pand and modernize the conference treal which, as we write, has a $1.3 centre, and build a show lounge, as Cable companies, radio and TV sta million slot progressive jackpot well as boardwalk and docking facili tions, gas pipeline companies, air ties for the resort which sits on the lines and many other sectors of our which hits on two $5 wagers. As southern edge of Lake Okanagan. economy have the value of their well, Jeu de puissance (power play), While some construction has already assets determined by regulatory de a hockey themed progressive which begun, the resort is at 100% occu cisions yet no one questions the links Quebec's three casinos and is pancy during the summer which right of their shareholders to buy or won on three $0.25 coins, now stands means that most of the work will be sell shares so long as they conform at slightly more than $700,000. This gin this fall with the casino and re with regulatory and competition re jackpot, once won, will again begin at lated complex expected to open in quirements. We do not know Mr. $500,000. March, 2000. Glasgow though, on a point of prin ciple, we think As part of the negotiations with BCLC should re BCLC, Lake city has agreed to amend view its decision its corporate articles within four with regard to his Design 21 FX Lighting Ltd. months of the agreement to require holdings. Services: that no shareholder may own in excess Import - Manufacture - Sales of 10% of the issued shares of the Consulting - Installation company without the prior consent of Bingo BCLC. Furthermore, no shareholder Country Featuring: who owns more than 10% of the com Star Panels - Brass Striplites - Acrylic Slot Signs pany will be allowed to dispose of any For Sale Tubelites - Fiber Optics - Ropelights - Marquee shares or acquire more shares without the prior consent of BCLC. Rumour has Len Stuart, the (Any Custom Design Welcome) In a related development, Fred Glas founder and, un gow, the founder and majority owner til he sold out 'Las Vegas' Style lighting systems of Lake City has been denied the right four years ago, to sell his shares in that company by Our Booth Seen At: majority owner 'Canadian Gaming Summit & Exhibition' Windsor the fact that BCLC refused to approve of Stuart Enter the sale prior to the June 27, 1999 tainment, North See Our Booth At: expiration of Glasgow's agreement America's with Sprott Securities, the investment World Gaming Congress largest bingo Las Vegas Sept 14/99 Booth 2757 house syndicating Glasgow's shares. supplier, pur We understand the BCLC did not chasing Bingo 12324-104 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5N OV3 want Lake City to be able to trade on Country's 44 the fact that it was being granted a Ph (780) 421-1940 Fax (780) 421-0148 bingo halls. licence to build a fourth casino in Bingo Country is Winner of the 19921.E.S. Award For Casino Lighting Penticton. North America's We see no difficulty with the 10% largest bingo hall SERVING THE MARKET requirement as all benefit when steps owner/operator. WITH 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE Canadian GAMING News Page 3 WHEEL ANALYSIS IDENTIFY ROULETTE WHEEL BIAS AND TRENDS BEFORE YOUR PLAYERS Casino Management can now easily check the performance of any roulette wheel, anywhere and at any time.