By Markus Ermisch - Kamloops This Week - January 06, 2008
Lake City Casinos is hiring an architect to oversee the design for the expansion of the downtown casino in Kamloops, which will more than double the size of the gaming facility. “This process is going to evolve quickly over the next six months, but we haven’t even started it yet,” said Steve Kumpf, the company’s vice-president for Okanagan operations, which includes Kamloops.According to a report from the Gateway Casinos Income Fund, which owns several casinos including the Lake City properties, the Kamloops casino will be housed in a new 35,000-square-foot building. The current facility is 14,000 square feet.The casino plans to install up to 150 new slot machines, bringing the number to 450, and have 12 tables and a six-table poker room. The casino currently has eight gaming tables.
A small, pub-style restaurant lounge, complete with a stage, is to be incorporated into the design, as is underground parking for up to 225 vehicles.According to the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s (BCLC) 2006/2007 annual report, Lake City Casino earned $34 million in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. In the previous fiscal year, the casino earned $32 million. Once the design is completed, the plans will be submitted to Kamloops City Hall, which will have to give them their blessing before they are submitted to the BCLC.The expanded building is to cover part of the parking lot between the casino on Victoria Street and Lansdowne Street.
Lake City Casinos had bought the lot in September 2006 for $2.85 million.Randy Lambright, the city’s community development supervisor, said Lake City Casinos must submit a rezoning application to the city, as the current zoning of the parking lot doesn’t allow for the construction of a gaming facility. Lake City Casino’s plans are congruent with the BCLC’s wishes. “We don’t want them to be strictly perceived as gaming,” said Paul Smith, the BCLC’s director of corporate communications.“We want them perceived as centres of entertainment for the appropriate adult crowd.” Combining gambling with entertainment, Smith said, makes for a “more positive contribution in the community.”The City of Kamloops is one of the beneficiaries of the revenues the casino earns and received almost $2 million in gaming revenues in the first three quarters of 2007.
In the 2006/2007 and 2005/2006 fiscal years, the city was paid $2.1 million and $1.9 million respectively.Mayor Terry Lake said gaming revenues are a “substantial” benefit for the community.The current casino, he said, is “not meeting the grade” of what people have come to expect. He said the facility should be renewed.Although an expanded gambling facility poses a higher risk for problem gamblers, Lake said the casino adequately advertises help programs for problem gamblers, who are a small percentage of gamblers.
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