New and exciting. Those were the key words used by staff to describe Vernon's new Lake City Casino which officially opens tonight. The $10 million facility is double the size of the current site in the Village Green Hotel. Lake City vice president Jeff Pascoe says they expect to draw customers from the region. "We're mainly focused on Vernon but our marketing is going to spread throughout the Okanagan. We're not going to go beyond the Okanagan at this time, but certainly we see opportunities in other markets like Salmon Arm and Revelstoke." The outlet has 400 slot machines----up from the 220 at the hotel stie------ along with eight electronic gaming tables....a bar and grill....and live entertainment. General manager Bridget Armstrong says they're can accommodate 1,600 customers, with opening hours from 9am to 2am every day.
"In Vernon we tend to have more a seniors based clientele. What we've done with this casino though is try to add some entertainment value to attract different demographics. We have a Sevens Bar and Grill which is more of a sports themed bar and grill." Armstrong says Vernon is the first BC casino to offer a completely electronic gaming pit. Pascoe says they have about 140 employees, which he says is more than the previous site.
Meantime, patrons will have to buy food if they want an alcoholic drink in the new casino--at least for now. Bert Hick, a consultant who works for the casino, says the operators have a "food primary" license, but could get approval for a general liquor license from the Liquor Branch in a couple weeks. He told the media, "The reality is liquor service in a casino is only an added amenity. The primary focus is the gaming activity. There's not a huge volume of liquor sold in a casino." The operators had wanted to start serving booze at 9am, but city council would only support starting at 1pm.Hick says all BC casinos have a policy to deal with intoxicated patrons which includes providing them with a safe ride home.
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