Published Jun 28, 2023 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 2 minute read
Alberta’s gaming regulator has upheld a previous decision not to allow a Camrose casino to relocate to Edmonton.
In a decision released on June 22, a hearing panel of Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), which regulates those industries in the province, confirmed AGLC’s November 2022 decision not to allow Capital City Casinos Ltd. to relocate a gaming house to Edmonton from Camrose.
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The panel found, in part, there was a lack of community support from the general public, local government and existing casino operators in the Edmonton market.
According to the decision, more than 500 individuals and groups objected in writing to the proposed relocation of the Camrose Resort Casino, owned by Capital City Casinos, during the initial application process.
“The panel finds that supporters of the application would decidedly have been able to do the same,” the decision states.
“The panel finds that the lack of community support for the application was substantial and does not find that the notice or timeframe for response was inadequate.”
Those who opposed the move feared the move would draw traffic, attention and gaming revenues from casinos working with local charitable organizations. While located in Edmonton, the casino would have been classified as a rural casino.
In a December news release following the AGLC’s initial decision to deny the relocation, Capital Casinos said there is a significant disparity between urban and rural charitable event revenue.
“AGLC’s unfair treatment of rural charities has been going on for decades, shortchanging rural communities hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Jason Pechet, president of Capital City Casino, which owns the Camrose Resort Casino in the release.
“Rural communities and their leaders should be alarmed by their mistreatment by AGLC and the failure by the AGLC Board to approve a relocation that would help to resolve this disparity.”
The company noted at the time that if the application was unsuccessful, the Camrose Resort Casino would shut down and 650 regional charities would lose revenues.
In the June decision, the panel also found that existing operators testified about “significant cannibalization” of revenue and concerns about the current oversaturation in the Edmonton market.
“Further, the operators each cited the loss of revenue for their associated charities and the impacts the proposed relocation would have on the existing operators’ relationship with AGLC,” the decision states. “As such, the panel finds a significant lack of support from existing casino operators in the Edmonton market.”
Capital City Casinos did not respond to a request for comment on the AGLC panel’s decision.
ajunker@postmedia.com
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