One-arm bandits held up

By Scott Neufeld Wednesday, September 6, 2006 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_501.php
A plan to install slot machines at Fairweather Bingo could be coming up for another round of debate.In October 2005, Vernon city council approved the rezoning of the bingo site to allow for gaming expansion and expected that the new use for the facility would be given the go ahead by the B.C. Lottery Corporation.Ten months later, in mid-August of 2006, the city finally received the reply that council did not follow the correct process to approve the expansion of gaming at the bingo hall. As a result, the corporation did not consider the city’s application valid.Coun. Barry Beardsell said it should come as no surprise to council that the application was denied. He said that at the time he warned the former council that they were not following the correct process.“A couple councillors at the time tried to make zoning change the official approval method for the expansion of slot machines,” he said. “In fairness to the city, the lottery corporation is about the worst corporation . . . to get information from.”However, Beardsell said that the city has plenty of slot machines and does not need any more. He said that the argument at the time had been that without slots, the bingo hall would close and local charities would lose funding. Currently, the city has 210 machines operating at the Lake City Casino generating $23,908,452 in 2005-2006.Beardsell said that a government letter from December 2005 addressed to charities across the province makes that argument invalid. The letter from Solicitor General John Les states that charities’ bingo revenue won’t be affected by the fluctuating take from local gaming.“Bingo affiliates’ grant levels will continue to be paid on the basis of demonstrated need, with no relationship to the actual revenue generated at each hall,” Les says in the letter.As a result, of the rejected application, Beardsell said he expects the idea of installing slots at the hall to come up for discussion again. The owner of Fairweather Bingo is continuing to move ahead with the expansion of gaming at the facility and is close to completing a business plan. Terry Segarty said the plan should be complete in about six weeks and will be sent to the lottery corporation. A floor plan and building design for the expansion are complete and the only remaining task is to complete a cost estimate for construction.“As soon as we submit the business plan the lottery corporation will go through the business plan,” he said. “They need to know that any machines that are put in there are going to be utilized.”Without slot machines Segarty said the bingo facility will close within five years. He said that competition from casinos has meant that Fairweather is typically half-empty and is expensive to keep open.“At the end of the day local charities will lose out because they rely on that support,” he said.The B.C. Lottery Corporation was unable to comment for the story before press time.