Canadian Casino News November 22, 2008
November 22, 2008
B.C.’s casino operators choose to play it safe in a risky economy
If Las Vegas is any kind of barometer, B.C. gambling operators should brace themselves for slower growth.
The U.S. recession has cut visitation to Sin City by an estimated 15 to 20 per cent and the fire sales are on. Rooms at the ultra-luxurious Bellagio — normally $300 and up — have been slashed to $149.
Harrah’s recently scrapped plans to build a $500-million resort in Kansas and casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. avoided bankruptcy this month with a share offering that raised $2.1 billion in badly needed capital.
B.C. gambling officials say Metro Vancouver casinos won’t automatically feel the same pain because they depend largely on the local market, not national and international visitation like Las Vegas.
But B.C. Lottery Corp. vice-president Kevin Gass said they’re not immune from economic realities either.
Vancouver Canucks team up with River Rock Casino
The River Rock Casino in Richmond will become “the official casino of the Vancouver Canucks and General Motors Place” under a new partnership announced Thursday between the Canucks and Great Canadian Casinos.
The deal will also see the club section of GM Place becoming “the River Rock Club.”
Great Canadian said in a news release that River Rock will host “two VIP road trips and VIP hosting nights” as part of their promotions this season.
Canada Eyes Legalized Sports Betting
The Toronto Star reported that the federal and Ontario governments in Canada are quickly moving towards legalizing Las Vegas style sports betting. Revenues in Canadian casinos have declined as they have in the US casinos and the casinos are looking for ways to increase business. Legalized sports betting would be especially beneficial in the casinos that border the US in Niagara Falls which attracts players from New York and Windsor which attract players from Detroit.
Currently the Canadian casinos offer a government run sports lottery called Pro-Line which is similar to the parlay cards where you must choose three or more teams. The new proposal will let players bet on individual sporting events.
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Global Payments Announces Agreements With Nine Casinos Throughout the U.S. and Canada
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:
GPN), a leader in both payment processing and gaming cash access services,
today announced agreements to provide nine U.S. and Canadian casinos with
its comprehensive suite of cash access products and services.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010221/ATW031LOGO )
The gaming establishments have signed contracts to utilize a number of
Global’s innovative VIP LightSpeed(R) products including: PlayerCash
@dvantage(R) credit and debit card cash advance services, VIP Preferred(R)
check-cashing services, and ATM Cash @dvantage(R), which allows patrons to
initiate electronic check transactions at ATMs without casino cage
assistance.
Global will provide services to the following U.S. casinos: Mardi Gras
Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado; Player’s Club Casino in Ventura,
California; Running Aces Harness Park in Forrest Lake, Minnesota; Hoosier
Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Indiana; 7th Street Casino in Kansas
City, Kansas; Bodine’s Casino in Carson City, Nevada; and Wind River Casino
in Riverton, Wyoming. Services in Canada will be provided to Flamboro Downs
in Hamilton, Ontario and Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ontario.
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