Vancouver city council rejected a $500 million expansion of the Edgewater Casino today, saying the proposal for BC Place was not appropriate for the city. And in a speech as he introduced amendments, Mayor Gregor Robertson also called for a moratorium on "any and all applications to expand gambling and/or gaming venues" until the province and B.C. Lottery Corp undertake a "comprehensive public consultation." "It does not meet the right expectations of the city or its citizens," Robertson said as council met to vote on the proposal this afternoon. The decision followed the longest public hearing in recent city history. A broad cross-section of residents opposed the proposal, arguing it will detract from the city and increase problem gambling and crime, while some business associations, unions and the employees of the current Edgewater Casino said the expansion will provide much-needed jobs and inject millions of dollars into the local economy. Paragon Gaming Inc. operates the existing casino on False Creek at the old Plaza of Nations. It has signed a tentative agreement with B.C. Pavilion Corp. to build a casino with two hotels, 1,500 slot machines and 150 tables attached to BC Place if council gave its approval. It would have been the largest casino in Canada west of Ontario.
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1 comment:
Well, this is somehow a bad news to the casino. However, their expansion proves the good revenue in the business. They may come up into a revised plan and not having a conflict with the said expectation within the city or the citizens. We'll just need to look forward to this and hope for the approval as they will be named as the largest casino in Ontario, Canada.
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