The B.C. Lottery Corporation wants Vancouver to lift or amend its 13-year-old moratorium on the expansion of gaming in the city.
According to the city’s general manager of Arts, Culture and Community Services Margaret Wittgens, there has been recent interest from the BCLC to expand gambling at the city’s two casinos — Parq and Hastings Racecourse.
“BCLC is seeking to expand gambling opportunities at the Parq and Hastings Racecourse casinos by potentially increasing the number of slot machines and table games,” Wittgens wrote in a report going to council’s committee on policy and strategic priorities on May 8.
Currently, the Parq casino in Yaletown has 600 slot machines and 61 tables, while East Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse has 446 slot machines and no gaming tables. Parq has permission to operate 75 tables. Hastings Racecourse has permits to operate 600 slot machines.
