Dazzling debut
People line up for much-anticipated grand opening of Cascades Casino Penticton
Light rain and a stiff breeze couldn’t wipe the smile off Grace Berger’s face Wednesday as she sat outside awaiting the grand opening of the new Cascades Casino Penticton.
The 80-year-old Osoyoos woman arrived 2 1/2 hours early for the occasion and was the fifth person in a long lineup that built before the doors opened officially at 5 p.m.
Berger described herself as a “full-time member” of the old casino at the Penticton Lakeside Resort that closed its doors March 31 in preparation for the relocation.
Her wish list for the new facility, which boasts 400 slot machines and 11 table games, consisted of three items: better food, more space and one other thing.
“I hope there’s some good luck here,” Berger said with a grin.
Inside, the CEO of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment wouldn’t guarantee wins, but did assure customers a good time.
The $25-million facility “really embodies all that we’re trying to do with gaming: create an entertainment destination, not slots in a box,” Tony Santo told dignitaries, pointing to the attached family friendly pub and buffet restaurant.
“If you gamble, fine. If you don’t, that’s OK, too. We really want people to look at this as a place where they can be entertained.”
He said Penticton’s new casino is part of an “aggressive redevelopment growth strategy” that has seen the company spend $300 million and add 1,500 employees at 17 sites across Western Canada in the past four years.
Santo noted the new venue was only announced in October 2015, and thanked city council and staff, without whose help “we could not have accomplished this facility in 17 months.” He also acknowledged Penticton MLA Dan Ashton for being a “great support and mentor,” and “helping me understand how Penticton works.”
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit noted the facility is expected to add $100 million over 40 years to the local economy, which includes $250,000 a year in lease payments, and will help confirm the South Okanagan Events Centre campus as the city’s entertainment hub.
Equally important, the mayor continued, is the growth of the casino’s workforce from 150 employees at the old venue to 320 at the new one.
“We don’t spend enough time, and certainly don’t celebrate when we have established businesses that are actually growing and expanding,” said Jakubeit.
“Those businesses are already in our community. They’re sponsoring little league, (employees) are volunteering here and there, their staff is out there spending money in the community and making the community what it is. That doesn’t get talked about.”
Nor does the good it does when someone leaves behind money at a casino, said B.C. Lottery Corporation CEO Jim Lightbody.
He pointed out that 69 local non-profits received gaming grants worth a total of $1.5 million last year, while the City of Penticton collected a host local government grant worth $1.7 million.
In the future, the city will give 10 per cent of its grant to the Penticton Indian band in exchange for the band dropping opposition to the relocation. Gateway sweetened the pot with $750,000 of its own over 10 years.
If you gamble, fine. If you don’t, that’s OK, too. We really want people to look at this as a place where they can be entertained. Tony Santo, CEO of Gateway Casinos