AGLC Throws Proposal to Move Camrose Casino to Edmonton

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House doesn’t always win.

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Alberta Gambling, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), which regulates these industries in the province, has responded to a proposal from Capital City Casinos Ltd. to move a gaming house from Camrose, about 75 kilometers southeast of the city, to Edmonton. It has decided against it, a spokesperson told Postmedia. .

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The AGLC board chose not to proceed with the relocation because “there was a lack of community support, including the general public, local governments and existing casino operators.”

The AGLC’s three-step evaluation process for relocating casinos called for written feedback on the proposal during a period of 21 days until 10 August.

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Among the majority, the Edmonton Community League Federation (EFCL) said in an open letter to the regulator’s chairman and CEO that the move would be “damaging” to local groups that rely on charity game proceeds. and claimed to include many of the city’s community leagues.

At the time, EFCL executive director Laura Cunningham-Shpeley said the move would generate traffic, attention and game revenue from casinos working with local charities.

“It was clear that this was not the right move for Edmonton,” Cunningham Spree said Tuesday of the opposition and the decision. “I think people mobilized immediately because they knew the risks involved.”

The proposal called for the Camrose Resort Casino to be moved to a Parsons Road location near Elwood Drive in the Ellerslie industrial area of ​​south Edmonton. Post Media reached out to the casino for comment from the applicant but did not receive a response.

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Alberta’s charity gaming model allows organizations to conduct and manage sanctioned casino events to generate revenue that supports community programs and services statewide.

Charities are usually assigned casinos in the area, and the AGLC website on the subject states, for example, that “only licensed groups based in Edmonton can access casinos in Edmonton.” I am adding.

However, Capital City Casinos Ltd. does charity work in communities outside of Edmonton, including Beaumont, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc and Devon and AGLC. told Postmedia in August.

Because the proposed relocation would allow applicants to “remain in the local pool” at the St. Albert Casino, groups that were involved in charitable gaming events at these two locations would benefit from the combined proceeds. regulators said.

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In addition to lacking community support, the board rejected the proposal. This is because it “has no significant financial benefit and will have a significant impact on casinos in the Edmonton area.”

He did not explain how the proposal would affect local casinos or what the regulator’s criteria would be for determining the economic benefits (or lack thereof) of a move, but said the AGLC would “go beyond the proposal.” I cannot comment on how the proposals were evaluated when considering them,” he added only. It’s a three step process. ”

The regulator said it notified the applicant of its decision on November 15. The applicant is free to appeal by requesting a board hearing within 30 days after he receives the news.

hissawi@postmedia.com

@hamdiissawi