AB - River Cree Casino and Resort opens
Jackpot!
By JENNY FENIAK, Sun, November 5, 2006, Edmonton Sun
The buzz about Enoch’s new River Cree Resort and Casino began a while back.
The excitement climaxed last week with the million-dollar invite-only VIP grand opening soiree with 1,500 of Edmonton’s finest patrons in attendance.
If you haven’t already heard, the resort and casino are like nothing else around.
Featuring two sports rinks, various bars and restaurants, a four-star Marriott hotel and, of course, a massive gaming room, it is truly incomparable.
But anyone can go down and check it out, so we’ll get back to the best party Edmonton’s ever witnessed.
A small, formal reception opened the evening with introductions from Paragon Gaming CEO Linda Bennett and River Cree’s vice-president and general manager Brian Lee. Guests enjoyed the first of many rounds of Dom Perignon champagne while Alberta Gaming Minister Gordon Graydon shared well wishes for the new establishment and Enoch’s Chief Ron Morin shared his experience with the resort and casino’s considerations and planning.
A seafood bar included lobster, oysters and caviar on mini-pancakes with Russian vodka to wash it all down. And this was long before the real party began.
Once the formal program wrapped up, the doors opened to the guests and the games began - literally.
Everyone was given $200 in fun money to gamble away while every restaurant and bar was open and free.
The food - more seafood, sushi, mini-burgers, buffets and dessert platters - was stocked all night, while bars were free-pouring until patrons were literally dancing on the brand new marble tables.
It made for an unbelievable and definitely unforgettable night.
The free cabs ensured everyone made it home in one piece so they could visit again in the near future.
Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.
ABOUT PARAGON GAMING
from http://www.paragongaming.com/about.html
Paragon Gaming LLC of Las Vegas is a developer and operator of gaming based properties. With extensive experience as both a principal and a consultant, Paragon prides itself in executing all aspects of the gaming industry, including casino management, market analysis, planning and development, financial structure, public affairs, government entitlements and approvals, and securing strategic partnerships.
A significant segment of Paragon’s business is partnering with Native American and Canadian First Nation aboriginal groups. Accordingly, Paragon has developed the ability and experience to effectively address the profound social and economic needs of its partners throughout the planning, development and operation of all Indian gaming facilities.
Other Paragon News -
"Paragon BC, ULC, a division of Paragon Gaming Inc. (Paragon), a Las Vegas-based gaming company, has purchased Edgewater Casino, Inc. in downtown Vancouver at the Plaza of Nations and plans to enhance the gaming and entertainment experiences for local guests and visitors from around the world."
below from http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/05/04/breaking_news/02news.txt
Paragon Gaming agrees to buy Canadian casino
By ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY
BUSINESS PRESS
Las Vegas-based Paragon Gaming has an agreement in place to purchase the Edgewater Casino in Vancouver, B.C., pending regulatory approval.
Although officials were unable to reveal the amount of the deal, Yale Rowe, Paragon’s vice president of operations, says the company hopes to have it completed by the end of the summer.
"We’re very experienced operators," Rowe said. "With the Edgewater, we are taking a look at the idea that we’re going to have to come in and put our experience to work to overcome some of the issues they’ve faced in the past." The casino was opened by two Canadian businessmen who had previously owned separate card rooms. Paragon Casino would be the first owners from outside British Columbia to own a gaming establishment.
The property is currently the only asset of Edgewater Casino, Inc. and it would be the first property Paragon Gaming has bought as a going concern instead of developing and managing it from the ground up, Rowe says.
Paragon has plans for the property, but won’t reveal them at this time.
Located in the Plaza of Nations that was built for the 1986 World Exposition Fair, Edgewater Casino is based in a glass building overlooking False Creek. According to the casino’s Web site, the gaming-only property offers 600 slot machines, 40 table games, restaurants, a 450-seat indoor entertainment venue and an outdoor amphitheater.
Paragon Gaming has been focusing on First Nation gaming projects in Canada since arriving in the Great White North nearly five years ago. In October, it is scheduled to open the $180 million River Cree outside Edmonton, Alberta. The 255-room, 31,000-square-foot casino property will also feature a mix of table games, 600 slots, restaurants, a live entertainment venue and an ice rink.
The company is also scheduled to break ground in late summer on another Alberta gaming project outside Whitecourt. The $50 million Alexis Casino and Travel Plaza will feature an 152-room hotel along with 200 slots, table games and a convention center.
Paragon also built and runs the Augustine Casino, a Native American property in Palm Desert, Calif. It was opened in 2001.
below is from: http://www.abgaminginstitute.ualberta.ca/nav03.cfm?nav03=40728&nav02=33771&nav01=25818
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20-Oct-05 |
Luxury resort taking shape. Edmonton Sun, 61.
The River Cree Resort and Casino offered a glimpse of progress on the project today at an event celebrating the completion of cement-work on the development’s hotel. The project is expected to generate $120-million a year in revenue and will include a 62,600-square-foot casino with 600 slot machines that is expected to open in Fall 2006. Members of the Enoch Cree First Nation believe that it will create significant employment and economic benefit for their community. |
| 20-Oct-05 | Band likes odds on $150 million resort, casino. Edmonton Journal, G1. This article reports that ceremony was scheduled to be held at the River Cree Resort and Casino to celebrate progress on the nine-story hotel. Enoch Cree First Nation Chief Ron Morin says that the development will employ upwards of 1,000 people and create the equivalent of 725 full-time jobs. The casino and resort is a partnership between Paragon Gaming of Las Vegas and Enoch Community Development Corporation – a subsidiary of Enoch Cree Nation. Paragon will operate the casino that will have 600 slot machines, 40 table games plus a 12-table poker room and high-limit gaming area. Morin says that casinos on other North American reserves have reduced problem gambling among members of the host First Nation. The Enoch band will, however, increase its spending on educational programs to warn about the dangers of problem gambling and other addictions. |
below is from http://www.oxnard-journal.com/arc11.htm
INDIAN CASINO?
-OR-
BIG NEVADA CORPORATE GAMBLING?
Remember the old adage "The flower of the lemon tree is beautiful and sweet, but the Fruit of the lemon is impossible to eat." Such it is with this so-called (INDIAN CASINO) which is being proposed by the Maidu Indians whose tribe resides in Plumas and Tehema Counties in northern California, some three-hundred miles north of the Oxnard Factory Outlet. Contrary to the claim circulating that the Maidu tribe owns no tribal land, the word is that this is a False Claim. Rumor has it that this tribe in fact does own land but has avoided placing this land in trust which would Federally designate it as Maidu tribal land. This could greatly affect local individuals who have empathy for a "landless" indian tribe seeking to build a gigantic casino complex in Oxnard . Let us not miss the forest for the redwoods. Would elected officials of Oxnard entertain the idea of a Las Vegas/Reno gambling corporation seeking to build a gigantic casino complex in our City? Is there any doubt that the local residents would surely reject such a corporate proposal from neighboring Nevada? This is exactly what is occuring. Remove the plight of the Native American Indians from the equation and the entire complexion of this proposal changes from Dr. Jekyl to that of Mr. Hyde.
Now for the truth which quite often slips through the cracks in the decision making processs of Oxnard. This project calls for a 150,000 sq. ft. Casino featuring 2,000 slot machines and 176 table games. A 250 room hotel, a range of restaurant dining options, lounges and showrooms, resort retail stores and ‘Flex’ facility for concerts, meetings, tradeshows, sporting events, and etc.
BUT, Wait A Minute! How does this poor landless Maidu indian tribe propose to fund such a huge project? This is the point where this story takes a frightening turn. Enter PARAGON GAMING. Paragon is a Limited Liability Corporation that plans to develop gambling projects across the United States and in Canada using Native American Indian tribes as a front. If Paragon Gaming rings a bell, maybe it’s because not long ago Paragon attempted a gambling proposal in Port Hueneme, but Port Hueneme’s decision makers had the wisdom to reject the proposal. I fear that kind of wisdom does not exist in the City of Oxnard. Wisdom has no place when there are pockets in need of lining and potentially large sums of money to be made by the same priviledged few that always seem to profit from actions and decisions of the Oxnard City Council. (Editor’s Note: Remember the Pacific Suns debaucle…) These decisions of the city leadership are most often contrary to the wishes of the citizenry who elected them.
Kudos to Mayor Lopez and Councilman John Zaragoza who wasted no time taking a stand of opposition to the Casino proposal and no doubt see the project for what it really is, a Front for Big Nevada Gambling to grab a foothold in California. Once again, history repeats itself and big corporate money has found a loophole in the system by taking advantage of Native American Indians who will serve as a bona fide FRONT to cloak Paragon’s plans to build full-blown gambling casinos here in California and also nationwide in states where gambling is otherwise illegal. When Paragon left Port Hueneme, they said they would "find an indian tribe" and they did. A recent phone call placed to Paragon by one of Oxnard’s Neighborhood Coucil, (now known as the INCF) Chairpersons requesting a copy of the Oxnard Casino project and business plans as well as projected earnings was promptly denied under the pretext that Paragon is "currently in negotiations with the City of Oxnard."
What Negotiations? Gee, and we, the citizens of Oxnard have been told by our elected officials that there is nothing more occuring than a staff report on the project. Would Oxnard’s elected officials outright lie to the Community?????
In response to that question, on March 12th, the Oxnard City Council received a full report endorsing this project from the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). However as April rolled around, certain members of the City Council claimed they knew nothing of the proposal until it appeared in an April 8th article in the Star Press. I’d say once again, they’ve been caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
Why were the citizens of Oxnard diliberately misled on this minor addition to our city’s landscape? Timing IS everything! By claiming they had no knowledge of the Paragon Casino proposal until April 8th, the City Council can say there was no time for them to get a report on the project and make a decision on the issue prior to May 15th. Why is May 15th such an important date? It is expected that on or around May 15th, the State of California is going to impose restrictions on tribal gambling which would seriously disrupt the plans of Paragon Gaming in Oxnard. By taking no action on this issue prior to the May deadline, the City Council is as much as approving the project. As with Pontius Pilot, the Council is following a similar cleansing method of washing their hands of the whole issue by failing to take a stand of opposition to this Nevada backed Casino. Taking a stand too late is as good as no stand at all!
We’ve been told the Tribal Representatives are meeting with "community leaders". What community leaders? My bet would be that these would be the various department heads and the handful of local business people who are already lining up with their hands-out for the promises of mitigation moneys that are tantamount to bribery. The losers in this scenario, as usual, will be the ressidents of Oxnard whose hard-earned money will fuel another capitalist machine from outside the boundaries of Oxnard. This done, as is the usual way business is conducted in Oxnard, only a handful of already elite individuals will stuff more into their already fat pockets. Greed is a great motivator.
As the song says, "I get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again." Remember, when you read of this topic in the "RED STAR PRESS" which is most often our local purveyor of censored propaganda, that the "MAIDU INDIAN CASINO" is actually "THE LAS VEGAS/RENO NEVADA PARAGON GAMING CASINO".
When will the people of Oxnard raise up their heads, open their eyes, and take control of their local government?
Exclusive for the Oxnard Journal
The Watchdog (a writer of lineage in the Cherokee tribe)
below from: http://64.62.196.98/IndianGaming/2006/015797.asp
First Nation in Alberta finishing construction of casino |
 The Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta is wrapping up construction of the $178 million River Cree Resort and Casino. The facility is the first Native casino in the province. It will feature 600 slot machines and 40 gaming tables. It is set to open in late October. More than 5,000 people have applied for the 700 to 800 jobs. The casino is expected to provide an economic boon to the First Nation, whose unemployment rate is around 65 percent. The casino was developed by Paragon Gaming, who will receive 15 percent of gaming revenues. The Alberta Lottery Fund will receive 30 percent, the Enoch Cree Nation will receive 30 per cent and the remaining 10 percent will be set aside for other First Nations in Alberta.
Revenues from the resort side of the casino will be split 55-45 between Paragon and Enoch.
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