The city council of North Vancouver, British Columbia, recently voted 5-2 to send the issue of a “community gaming center” to the city’s policy committee for further discussion, potentially ending the city’s 20-year ban on gambling. Unlike traditional casinos, community gaming centers only offer electronic gaming stations, such as slot machines and electronic blackjack.
The action is in response to Playtime Gaming’s 2013 proposal to lift the gambling prohibition and allow them to develop a facility with slot machines in the developing Shipyards District, including “restaurants, boutique retail, an expansion of the Pinnacle Hotel, underground parking, a public theatre, skating rink or water feature and about 40 per cent green space and public areas along with an area that includes slot machines in order to make the rest of the project financially viable.”
Former North Van District Mayor and current Councillor Don Bell said, “What are the economic benefits? Are they real? It sounds good but what really comes through? I don’t think that’s the only consideration but I think that’s something we should be looking at in the interests of our community where we’re looking for potential revenue sources. We need to find out is there a social downside? Is there a criminal downside to this?”
Mayor Darrell Mussatto supports the proposal going forward, citing the economic benefits local programs receive from gaming grants. Tom Nellis, director of Playtime Gaming, donated more than $11,000 to Mussatto’s latest election campaign, according to campaign financing disclosure documents
Playtime Gaming currently operates six community gaming centers in British Columbia.
