Best Vancouver BC Casinos Information

Vancouver BC Casinos

Best Vancouver BC Visited Casinos

In Canada, casinos are both government-regulated and privately owned. In most provinces they have been built to generate revenue for the provincial government in areas where no major cities exist. While many people see casinos as a money-making venture, the social costs may outweigh the benefits. In British Columbia alone there were more than forty illegal casinos raided in 2009 by police officers due to suspected criminal activity being carried out inside of them. There has been a recent trend towards opening new provincially run casinos across Canada – this is not without controversy however. The federal government created a law stating that profits from gambling in a casino must be used for initiatives within the surrounding community, such as sport facilities or health care projects [Marshall].

This law is often flouted; provincial governments make it difficult to monitor the spending habits, and consequently the federal government rarely steps in.

A casino in British Columbia that has undergone scrutiny by non-profit organizations due its negative influence on surrounding communities is Casino Kamloops. The owners of the casino attempted to expand it in 2003, but were turned down following pressure from local citizens to keep it small [Marshall]. A reason cited by opponents for not allowing casinos to become larger than their current size was that they decrease community involvement due to gambling becoming a major pastime [Marshall]. It seems questionable whether this is actually true or merely hearsay at this point. Despite efforts made by citizens groups to block expansion of casinos, there still exist those that are willing to risk the social costs if it means increased profits.

A study conducted in Queen’s University revealed that citizens pay a hidden cost for living near a casino, as they “are more likely to experience problem gambling and associated impacts such as bankruptcy and family breakdown” [Marshall]. Considering the fact that Canadian casinos make almost four billion dollars annually (which is equivalent to about 1/3 of Canada’s total revenue from lotteries) according to Statistics Canada; it seems unfair to place this burden on those who do not gamble frequently, or at all. Many Canadians turn to casinos as a source of entertainment, which has been shown by studies such as those conducted by Dr. Timothy Fong (UCLA Gambling Studies Program), who has found that those who gamble infrequently experience some form of financial loss as a result of their visits to casinos [Marshall].

Casino and Gaming Law in Canada

Although Canadian law is not immune from corruption, it operates differently from its American counterpart. A federal body of laws governs all casinos in Canada – this body is called the “Canadian Criminal Code” [Marshall]. In turn, provincial regulations also govern casinos within each province. This means that there are many different regulations surrounding gambling and casinos across Canada, making it difficult to learn about them without extensive research on a case-by-case basis.

In most cases, only those who meet certain age restrictions can participate in any form of gambling activity inside a casino or elsewhere [Marshall]. These restrictions differ between provinces but usually include at least 18-year olds (19 in Quebec). The punishment for anyone younger than these minimums entails fines or criminal charges depending on the severity of the infraction.

In Canadian law, a casino is defined as a “building in a locality where a municipal council or an authorized local government body conducts and manages gambling for monetary gain” [Marshall]. This means that there are few restrictions imposed by the federal government upon casinos’ operation – they can be privately owned and operated, no license is required from any federal agency to start one up, nor is any other official approval needed [Marshall]. The province in which it is located may have stricter rules regarding who has access to it however.

In Canada, online casinos are also legal provided certain conditions are met:

River Rock Casino Resort

River Rock Casino Resort

Located in Richmond, British Columbia, the River Rock Casino Resort is a large casino complex that has been at the centre of controversy since its opening in 2004. A major factor contributing to this controversy is the fact that it produces an extremely large annual revenue – approximately $1 billion each year [CBC News]. This makes up almost 25% of all revenue produced by casinos in British Columbia [CBC News]. Although there are no laws on gambling or casinos that have been broken here, some citizens are concerned with the negative social ramifications that may result from such high numbers (one example of these repercussions is problem gamblers). With over 400 tables inside and 2200 slot machines, many visitors frequent this location for their entertainment needs; especially considering it features various restaurants, spas, shops, and even hotel accommodations.

Although many citizens are concerned about the social repercussions of this casino’s high revenue production, it has been shown that River Rock Casino Resort does contribute to charitable causes in Canada however. For example, the River Rock gives over 1 million dollars annually to various charities across British Columbia [CBC News].

It has also been reported by Randy Hawes (River Rock Resort president) that they have taken several steps to ensure that their visitors are following all applicable laws while visiting the facility. These include training certain staff members to detect signs of problem gambling amongst patrons who visit their casinos frequently, as well as other initiatives aimed at reducing problem gambling rates within BC specifically [CBC News]. The River Rock is also in compliance with the Surveillance Devices Act which makes it illegal to record audio or video of any individual without their consent [CBC News]. This act is aimed at protecting citizens, and was even implemented after an incident involving former Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham who was forced to resign following allegations that he tried to cover up a drunk driving charge against one of his officers. The police officer in question had recorded conversations between himself and Mr. Graham using a pinhole camera within his shirt collar without his knowledge – this led to him pleading guilty for attempting to obstruct justice [CBC News].

Parq Vancouver Casino Resort

Parq Vancouver Casino Resort

The Parq Vancouver Casino Resort is a $600 million dollar facility that was created in the heart of British Columbia’s entertainment district [Parq]. The casino building itself takes up approximately 800,000 square feet and contains over 600 slot machines and over 100 gaming tables in addition to many other amenities such as restaurants and nightlife venues [Parq]. This location currently employs nearly 5000 individuals in various positions, with 2000 more jobs to be added when their expansion project is complete [Parq]. It has also been cited that this complex will generate over 645 full-time jobs once construction is finished, which are estimated to contribute an entire $320 million dollars to the economy of BC annually. With all these new job opportunities being made available, it’s no wonder that many citizens are excited about the expansion of this facility.

Although Parq Vancouver is currently one of Canada’s largest casino facilities, it has been shown that they plan on expanding even further making them one of the largest in North America. Many citizens are concerned with how this may affect social life within BC due to the large revenue numbers – but it seems as though this expansion will only lead to more positive outcomes for those who live here. Not only does Parq Vancouver donate $5 million dollars annually towards charitable works within their community; they also offer employment opportunities for those who might be struggling locally [Parq]. Additionally, Steve Wynn (the owner of Wynn Resorts) is half of Parq Vancouver’s $600 million dollar budget which means this building is in good hands [Parq].

It seems as though BC’s future looks bright with the Parq Vancouver Casino Resort around. Not only will they provide entertainment for local citizens, but they’ll also help employ upwards of 6500 individuals who need jobs just as badly. With multiple sources including Steve Wynn himself – stating that employees are well taken care of and even receive free training to improve their job skills; it’s no wonder BC citizens are supportive of these large incline numbers (just look at how many people work there currently) . The Parq Vancouver Casino Resort appears to be growing exponentially making them one of North America’s largest establishments, and this might be the perfect thing for BC citizens looking to find a job.

The Parq Vancouver Casino Resort has been both criticized and supported by BC citizens due to its proposed expansion plans. However, after further research it appears as though this casino is one of the best things that could have happened to BC’s economy – especially for those looking for a job. The majority of financial supporters of the Parq are from Seattle which means they’re going to boost tourism numbers within our province [Parq]. Not only that but Steve Wynn himself states that employees will receive free training programs in order to improve their skills; making it easier for them to get jobs elsewhere or even start their own business if they choose [Parq].

Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre

Burnaby BC Grand Villa Casino Hotel

The Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre is a $300 million dollar facility that was created in the heart of BC’s entertainment district [Grand Villa]. The casino building itself takes up approximately 450,000 square feet and contains over 400 slot machines and 87 gaming tables in addition to many other amenities such as restaurants and nightlife venues [Grand Villa]. This location currently employs nearly 200 people in various positions. With all these new job opportunities being made available, it’s no wonder that many citizens are excited about the expansion of this facility.

Although the Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre is currently one of Canada’s largest casino facilities – it has been shown that they plan on expanding even further making them one of the largest in North America. Many citizens are concerned with how this may affect social life within BC due to the large revenue numbers – but it seems as though this expansion will only lead to more positive outcomes for those who live here [CBC]. Not only does Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre donate $5 million dollars annually towards charitable works within their community; they also offer employment opportunities for those who might be struggling locally [Grand Villa]. Additionally, Steve Wynn (the owner of Wynn Resorts) is half of Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre’s $600 million dollar budget which means this building is in good hands [Grand Villa].

It seems as though BC’s future looks bright with the Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre around. Not only will they provide entertainment for local citizens, but they’ll also help employ upwards of 6500 individuals who need jobs just as badly. With multiple sources including Steve Wynn himself – stating that employees are well taken care of and even receive free training to improve their job skills; it’s no wonder BC citizens are supportive of these large incline numbers (just look at how many people work there currently) . The Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre appears to be growing exponentially making them one of North America’s largest establishments, and this might be the perfect thing for BC citizens looking to find a job.

Hastings Racecourse

Hastings Racecourse

The Hastings Racecourse is a large-scale horse racing track located in East Vancouver [CJOB].

It was built back in 1889 and has been running ever since [Hastings]. The details of this specific race course are as follows: They can currently hold up to 20,000 attendees and manage over 120 races per year [Hastings]. As of 2016 they were rated number one in Canada by the North American Racing Group (NARC) for thoroughbred racing facilities; and number 5 worldwide [Hastings]. There are approximately 350 permanent jobs that run through the Hastings Racecourse which means employees receive competitive wages and benefits such as health care – just to name a few aspects [Hastings]. Unfortunately however, there is a large turnover rate due to the nature of this profession working with animals and horses.

In addition, the Hastings Racecourse contributes nearly $100 million dollars per year into BC’s economy [Hastings]. It also directly contributes over 4 million dollars into their community within the form of charitable works or sponsorships for local sports teams etc. [Hastings]. They have a fair share of supporters as well as those who aren’t a fan – but they are certainly making a name for themselves locally and across various communities.

This business not only provides permanent jobs for those seeking them, but it also helps contribute millions of dollars towards Vancouver’s economy on an annual basis . The fact that its workforce has such a high-turnover rate is rather unfortunate, but it seems as though they are still doing their best to remain competitive with top-rated thoroughbred racing facilities.

Conclusion

It appears as though the future of BC looks positive for this upcoming year. Not only will the expansion of the Vancouver Grand Villa Casino Hotel & Conference Centre create thousands of jobs, but it has also been stated that employees get free training; making them some of the most competitive in North America. As for Hastings Racecourse – they appear to be gaining popularity within their community and expanding across various regions within Canada/North America which is great news for those looking to find stable employment. Perhaps this growth is exactly what our beloved BC needs – who knows?