Both Chances and Cascades casinos in Kamloops have bounced back to pre-COVID levels.
That is according to BCLC’s Director of Public Affairs, Greg Walker, who made that comment during a recent City Council meeting.
“They are kicking on all cylinders. I was up at Cascades the other day and the thing that strikes me is that its not just that they are doing financially well, but the staff as well, there’s a real upbeat mood,” he said.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm on the gaming floor. They are glad to be back at work and that’s also gratifying to see.”
Casinos have been able to operate in British Columbia with no capacity limits as of Oct. 25, as long as they check to ensure that people inside are fully vaccinated.
BCLC also says people have to wear masks, adding people also have “ample space” to physically distance from one another. It also says there are “highly specialized ventilation systems” that meet or exceed all air-quality standards.
“We opened on July 1. It was very gratifying to see that they were instantly very popular. There were lineups at the facility but I can tell you that they have done, revenue wise have done really, really well,” Walker added.
“Both the facilities opened at partial capacity, but they are now at full capacity.”
Mayor Ken Christian says the return of casinos after a COVID-19 hiatus is excellent news as gaming proceeds from the two facilities are a big revenue stream for the city.
“Definitely good news for Kamloops and for the city of Kamloops, particularly for non profits in the city,” he said. “I think that start up of Chances and Cascade is good for the employees as well.”
“It is very helpful for us to have two casinos in our community and [now that they are] back to their full capacity, that will, I think, really help in terms of our gaming fund.”
Christian’s comments come after a new report by Thompson Rivers University economist, Peter Tsigaris, found that the BCLC headquarters in Kamloops has contributed $2.2 billion into the local economy in the past 35 years. The facility had an economic impact of $73 million in the 2019-20 fiscal year, about one per cent of Kamloops’ annual gross domestic product.
The City of Kamloops, like all communities with casinos, also gets ten per cent of the net casino gambling revenue from casinos and community gambling centres in their jurisdiction. In 2019, that figure in the City of Kamloops was about $2.7 million.
“We have never used gaming funds for part of of our operations in the city of Kamloops, it’s just philosophically not the way we go,” Christian added.
“We would prefer to use that money to fund special projects, the beautification of the parkade on Lansdowne street being a good example of that and some of the improvement in our parks and things.”
BCLC also says its Community Gaming Grants provide $140 million annually to not-for-profit organizations throughout B.C. helping them with ongoing programs and services.
– With files from Bill Cowen