Only Victoria and Saanich still have a chance to win a new gaming facility or casino.
The Songhees First Nation, Esquimalt First Nation and Township of Esquimalt also wanted the new gambling centre, but did not make it through the first phase of the B.C. Lottery Corporation selection process.
Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell said he was pleased that his municipality is still under consideration.
“We had, through council motion, expressed an interest in bringing a casino here after going through council consideration and a public process,” Atwell said.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps was also happy to still be in the running, and said the next step will be to have a council discussion about how to proceed.
“Obviously it’s a project of high community interest, and if council debates it publicly it means that there’s an opportunity for the public to hear the discussion and give us input,” she said.
BCLC spokeswoman Angela Koulyras said Victoria and Saanich are being asked for more information, including preferred locations and details on what amenities might be sought, Koulyras said.
“For example, are they expecting or hoping for a conference centre or a theatre or a hotel,” she said. “We also want to find out what their timelines are for approving a development proposal should they be the successful host community.”
The deadline for Victoria and Saanich to submit added information is June 23, with BCLC hoping to select a winning community in the summer.
Koulyras said BCLC will meet with the communities that were not chosen to go over the outcome.
Songhees Chief Ron Sam took the decision about his community in stride. “We kind of expected it, really, because we’re pretty close to the View Royal casino,” he said. “We’re going to take a look at it internally and see what we can do going forward.”
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said that while there is some disappointment “we’ve got other things on the go.”
“Their loss, not ours,” she said.
BCLC said the revenue potential from the new facility is $30 million to $45 million annually. With the host community receiving 10 per cent of the net take, that would be about $1.8 million to $2.5 million in annually.
The proposed facility would be smaller than the existing View Royal casino. Floor space of 15,000 to 30,000 square feet is being considered, BCLC said.
Koulyras said all proposals were evaluated using set criteria.
“We looked at municipal supports — what community policies, plans, zoning do they have in place that permit or restrict gaming. We looked at geographic and economic and demographic considerations.”
Koulyras said two types of facilities are on the table. “It could be a casino or it could be a community gaming centre, which is a much smaller facility,” she said.
“Community gaming centres primarily have bingo with some slots, and they may have a restaurant or a lounge and a small stage, whereas casinos are full-service entertainment destinations that have slots and table games.
“They usually include restaurants, lounges, some of them have theatres or hotels or conference centres or spas — so a much more fulsome entertainment complex.”
Concerns have been expressed among West Shore politicians that the capital region could have trouble supporting a new venue as well as the View Royal casino, but a BCLC market assessment shows there is potential for another facility, Koulyras said.
“We want to make sure that whatever we decide is complementing the existing gaming facilities,” she said. “There are three of them — there’s the View Royal casino, there’s Playtime bingo in Saanich and Esquimalt has Bingo Bingo.”
Local governments received about $4 million in 2014-15 from the View Royal site, with View Royal and Langford each getting 45 per cent and Esquimalt, Highlands, Sooke and Metchosin sharing the remaining 10 per cent.
Koulyras said the steps being taken do not mean there is a commitment from BCLC or local governments to open a new facility. “We’re just trying to determine what the level of interest is.”
