More slot machines are coming to Abbotsford. Chances
Community Gaming Centre, which currently has 125 machines, has been
granted permission to increase that number to a maximum of 275 machines.
On
Monday night, a divided Abbotsford Council voted to give second and
third reading to a bylaw change that would pave the way for the slot
expansion. After a lengthy debate, a 5-4 vote approved changes to the
bylaw and the slot machine restrictions. Voting against the expansion
were Couns. Simon Gibson, Henry Braun, Les Barkman and Dave Loewen.
"I've
been opposed to the slots right from the get go, on social and economic
grounds, not moral grounds as so many in public feel," said Loewen. He
said the social implications could be significant. "We really don't know
the true cost to our communities from this type of gambling."
Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman voted in favour of the slot expansion,
citing financial reasons. "For
me, I ended up voting in favour of this because, quite frankly, people
were clear that they didn't want their taxes higher. That means that the
city has to look at new revenue streams. This is a revenue stream, pure
and simple. It will pay quite a bit of money into the coffers of the
city," said Banman. It is expected that the city will receive more than
$1 million a year from slot machine revenues.
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