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Vancouver City Council to Decide on Casino’s Fate

Posted on April 23rd, 2011

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Does the creation of new jobs justify possible negative social effects? This is a question that the Vancouver city council will have to answer as it decides whether to permit Paragon Gaming to move and further develop Edgewater Casino. Paragon Gaming, a Las Vegas-based casino operator, plans to invest $500 million in a Mariott hotel-casino complex on a land adjacent to BC Place Stadium. According to Paragon, the project will not only bring new jobs to Vancouver, it will also benefit the city government which will receive $10 million in royalties. This isn’t the first time Vancouver city council had to make this kind of decision. Back in 2004, it had to vote whether Great Canadian Gaming could install 600 slot machines at the Hastings Racecourse.GCG predicted that the casino would bring $6.5 million to the city as well as revive the city’s dying horse racing industry. However, Hastings residents were concerned about the effects of having a casino nearby.

Nevertheless, despite the split 5-5 decision, then Mayor Larry Campbell cast the deciding vote, leading to the construction of the casino. When the former Vancouver mayor and current GCG Director was asked about the current Edgewater Casino debate, however, he claimed to take no sides. Meanwhile, GCG failed to meet all the economic benefits it promised to bring when it proposed to build the Hastings Racecourse Casino. The casino only brought the city $3.52 million, only a little over half the estimated amount. There are two opposing parties currently vying for dominance. Present are Edgewater employees and labor unions, wearing company provided shirts that read “Save Our Jobs” while anti-casino campaigners held out a “Vancouver Not Vegas” banner. Paragon transported Edgewater employees to city hall where they spoke on behalf of the company. The project’s backers from business groups were also there, like the Vancouver Board of Trade. According to the casino’s supporters, the project would create almost 2,000 permanent jobs as well as numerous contractual ones. David Podmore, PavCo’s chairman was also present, announcing Paragon’s offer to put up 1,200 slot machines instead of the original number of 1,500 in the casino’s first two years. PavCo has also stated that Paragon will also be using its lease revenue to contribute to Place Stadium’s $563 million renovation.

Yet several Vancouver residents, as well as several retired politicians continue to oppose the project despite their awareness of its economic benefits. Their primary concern is the effects of having such a facility in the area. According to the opponents of the project, it would cause several problems for the community, including gambling related problems. The group however forwards another cause for concern: sustainability. The city is currently trying to become the world’s most sustainable city in 2020. According to the group, a 24 hour gambling facility with hi-tech electronic machines would end up using large amounts of electricity that could harm the environment.

More opposition is also coming from former members of the Vancouver Police Department. The retired workers sent a letter stating their concern. Based on the letter, the former police officers are worried that the casino would cause an increase in the incidence of crime in the area According to them, casinos are usually used for money laundering and prostitution. This contention, however was flagged as too much of an assumption to raise as a valid argument. According to the letter, a committed police force dedicated to strictly enforcing the law would be necessary to keep the place safe—a force that the area has yet to mobilize. The opposing group counters by saying that a police force of that caliber would not be needed if effective policies are put into place.

Paragon has remained unconcerned despite the retirees’ worries. According to CEO Scott Menke, the company and the gambling industry as a whole are committed to creating a safe environment, even claiming that the casino is safer than a shopping center. Whatever the case may be, whatever the eventual outcome of the casino debate or whether or no one side was correct in raising their issues, one thing is certain: the casino proposal will be here to stay. Paragon has made it clear that It will only be a matter of time before it gets implemented.