Kelowna gambling centre wants to offer more ways to play
Gambling centre says it wants to introduce games like blackjack to keep up with competition in Kelowna and Okanagan
Poker and blackjack are in the cards at Chances Kelowna.
The owner of the Kelowna gambling centre hopes to introduce live table games and he also has plans to expand the Springfield Road building.
“Chances is a vibrant and growing gaming facility and in order to meet the demands of our diverse customer base, Chances is seeking to offer the one gaming product that is not yet available to our players,” owner Stan Walt writes in a letter to the City of Kelowna.
“This component is live table games that may include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and the such games Chances and the BC Lottery Corp. see viable in the future,” Walt writes.
The addition of live table games is considered a “substantial change” to Chances’ business model under provincial gambling regulations. As a result, city council’s comment is necessary.
Chances is one of two major gambling centres in Kelowna, the other being the Playtime Casino on Water Street.
In his letter to the city, Walt says he hopes to introduce table games to allow Chances to remain competitive with Playtime and other gambling centres in the Valley.
“The request we have made will allow Chances to compete on a level playing field with its competitor in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley,” Walt writes.
Chances opened in 2002 primarily as a bingo-focused establishment. Over time, other forms of gambling have been introduced, including slot machines and televised horse racing.
Walt says there have been “almost no incidents requiring police involvement” at Chances, and that the business is a good corporate citizen.
“We wish only to provide a first-class, fully-equipped casino for the residents and visitors of our city,” he says.
In the “near future,” Walt says, he will submit a development permit application to the city to expand the Chances building.