Squamish ‘community gaming site’ proposed
I am very sad to read this news - that the Squamish Nation is going to partner with Boardwalk Gaming to open a ‘community gaming centre’ with 150 slot machines, all sanctioned and promoted by the British Columbia Lottery Corp. It is very disappointing to read about this in The Globe and Mail as Squamish was successful in fighting such a ‘community gaming centre’ proposal by Boardwalk a few years back. It would seem that Boardwalk is very savvy, now partnering with a First Nations group and promoting a ‘community gaming centre’ under the rubric of First Nations community economic development. OY!
The Squamish First Nation in BC is one of the richest First Nations … what a public relations coup for Boardwalk. Anyone who has lived in Squamish knows that it is a community in transition, has a big drug and alcohol problem already with a shortage of available services …. and problem gambling from availability and accessibility of slots is going to be added as an additional strain on this community? Already, anyone in the Squamish area with a gambling problem has difficulty in getting help through the British Columbia Problem Gambling services - just try calling the BC Problem Gambling Help-line and saying you are in Squamish and need help. Get yourself into Vancouver, Family Services, if you want help is what you are going to hear. Hello people in Squamish, especially the Squamish Nation! Are you really thinking of the long-term hardship that having a community gaming centre with 150 slot machines is going to bring to the Squamish community or just looking at a short-term economic fix?
