BC - Great Canadian bids to serve alcohol on Boulevard’s gambling floor
Coquitlam Now, Thursday, December 07, 2006, Vancouver Sun
COQUITLAM - Great Canadian Casinos’ bid to serve alcohol on the gambling floor of its United Boulevard location has cleared a preliminary hurdle, as Coquitlam council approved first reading and agreed to let the issue go to public hearing.
Great Canadian, which recently expanded its Boulevard casino by adding a show theatre and increasing the number of slot machines to 950, is allowed to serve alcohol in areas adjoining the gaming floor, but not to patrons at gambling machines and tables.
The issue is divisive, because anti-gambling groups say serving alcohol to patrons on the floor increases the amount of money they spend, as well as the problems associated with addictive gambling.
After Coun. Brent Asmundson moved a motion to give the liquor application first reading, Coun. Fin Donnelly said there’s a need for an independent research facility to study the effects of gaming on communities, which a group called Citizens Examining the Social Impact of Gambling in B.C. is calling for.
Mayor Maxine Wilson said she’s “torn” on the issue of whether liquor should be served on the gaming floor, and again raised her concern that the casino’s earlier plan to build a hotel may not be realized.
“To me, it’s very important how this casino markets its product,” she said.
“The [Red Robinson Show Theatre] is a wonderful experience, but what you lack is the ability for people to get away and have an entertainment experience and that’s why I questioned your willingness to proceed with a hotel and make some kind of commitment with that.”
A public hearing is expected to take place on Jan. 24.
ON THE BOULEVARD
Mayor Maxine Wilson of Coquitlam says she is ‘torn’ on the issue of allowing liquor to be served on the floor of Boulevard Casino.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
