In Delta, British Columbia, Canada, the city council recently voted 4-2 in favor of Gateway Casino and Entertainment Ltd.’s proposed casino and hotel at the site of the current Town & Country Inn. Councillor Sylvia Bishop said, “I know that there are very passionate residents that do not support this casino application. I also know there are many, many people who support the casino application for what it will bring to Delta. I’m satisfied that the benefits that will come to Delta outweigh the concerns that were expressed.” Councillor Bruce McDonald added, “There’s no question that the most heartfelt positions that came forward were from people who had stories of what gaming had done to their families. I do understand that many people who, for very valid reasons, are opposed to gaming. But I don’t know a pub in Delta that isn’t a mini casino.” He also pointed out Gateway will invest $75 million in the venue and create 700 new jobs.
Councillors Heather King and Jeannie Kanakos, who opposed the proposed casino, noted the city needed to respect First Nations’ traditional territory and their current lands. Citizens have expressed opposition to the casino over concerns about traffic, gambling addiction and money laundering, referring to a report by Peter German indicating more than $100 million had been laundered through British Columbia casinos. Kanakos said, “We really did not have the meat of the matter in terms of understanding the implications from a public safety perspective.” She said she felt the “process has been rushed and flawed. I really feel that Delta is vulnerable and we shouldn’t even consider putting in a casino now. This just doesn’t fit our brand.”
In response, Mayor Lois Jackson said she would not have signed off on the casino if she didn’t believe the province and police could handle the money laundering issue. “The minister is going to be ensuring that all the recommendations are going to be met and if he doesn’t, we have a wonderful police department that will see that they are,” she said.
With the proposal having passed its fourth reading, the city will send out letters informing British Columbia Lottery Corporation, the Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance and the city of Richmond that the casino has been approved. Delta will also send letters to the city of Surrey, Tsawwassen First Nation, the Musqueam Indian Band and the Semiahmoo First Nation as a courtesy.
Across the Fraser River from Delta, the city of Richmond has opposed the casino proposal from the start. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the proposed Delta casino “is in a car-oriented destination without any real public transportation and without any likely development around it because it’s on agricultural land. If they do develop it, then it will impact on the Agricultural Land Reserve.” Brodie also is concerned the Delta casino would cannibalize gamblers from Richmond’s River Rock Casino.
Officials said they will file an objection to the project with the BCLC and initiate a dispute process. That could lead to the BCLC deciding not to sign off on the project. Even if Richmond does not file an objection, Delta and Gateway need final approval from the BCLC.
