Thursday, October 18, 2007

Slot machines approved

The Province : Thursday, October 18, 2007

Council has voted 5-3 to allow slot machines in Abbotsford's bingo hall -- a decision that Abbotsford Families United predicts will lure organized crime to the city."This is going to have a huge negative impact on our city," its president, Tricia Kolsto said yesterday."I'm expecting an onslaught of bankruptcy, extortion and organized crime." The gambling issue split the largely conservative Fraser Valley community, with 500 people packing a public hearing in September to debate it. In a poll commissioned by Abbotsford Families United last week, 52 per cent of respondents said council should reject the slot proposal while 36 per cent felt they should accept it. Twelve per cent were undecided.As the result of Monday's council vote, the Abbotsford bingo hall on Peardonville Road can install up to 125 slot machines.

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