Slot Machines in Vancouver

Vancouver is home to a variety of gaming facilities—one casino, one horse racing track (Hastings Park), one commercial bingo hall, and more than 400 lottery outlets.

Slot machines were first introduced into BC in 1997. At the time Vancouver City Council voted to ban slots. This ban was later lifted and slots are now allowed at both the Edgewater Casino and the Hastings Racetrack. Other Lower Mainland municipalities hosting casinos allow slots (Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster and Langley).

Late in 2003, the City received two applications to install slot machines in two locations—Hastings Park Racetrack and Plaza of Nations. At a meeting on December 2, 2003, Vancouver City Council dealt with the two applications separately:

>> View the decision of City Council on this issue December 2, 2003

Hastings Park Racetrack

In December 2003 a decision on the Hastings Park Racetrack application was deferred for six months at the request of the community so that a new vision and concept plan for Hastings Park and the Pacific National Exhibition could be developed through an extensive public consultation process. Council also decided at that time to postpone consideration of the report on the CD-1 Text Amendment - 2901 East Hastings Street (Hastings Park) until the Council meeting of June 8, 2004. At that time Council referred the application to a Public Hearing to be held July 15, 2004.

As part of the Hastings Park/PNE public consultation process a series of consultant reports were commissioned including a traffic, parking and access study which reviewed options with and with slot machines at Hastings Racecourse, a review of public comments and social impacts related to the possible introduction of slot machines and a public opinion poll.

>> View the reports

On May 18th City Council received a report entitled “Hastings Park/PNE - Four Approaches for the Future” and referred the matter to a series of special public meetings to hear from delegations. Council heard from 80 speakers and then at a Council Meeting June 22, 2004 approved a modified approach between Option 3 and Option 4 as outlined in the report.

>> View the staff report entitled “Hastings Park/PNE - Four Approaches for the Future”
>> View the June 22, 2004 Council Minutes
>> Staff Memo - Hastings Racecourse Update May 31, 2004 (PDF, 1.29MB)
>> VPD Memo Regarding Policing Issues at Hastings Racecourse (PDF, 262KB)

On July 15, 19, 20 and 21, 2004 Council held a public hearing and listened to close to 200 speakers. On Thursday, July 22, 2004, Council decided to approve the rezoning application to introduce 600 slot machines to the existing grandstand at Hastings Racecourse.

>> Public Hearing held on July 15, 19, 20, and 21, 2004
>> Public Hearing Decision on July 22, 2004

Plaza of Nations

The application for slot machines at a temporary facility at Plaza of Nations was referred to a Public Hearing which was held January 20, 2004. Prior to the Public Hearing, City staff held an Open House at the Roundhouse Community Centre on January 12, 2004. A public poll was also commissioned from Ipsos-Reid. Following the Public Hearing, Council approved a casino with a maximum of 600 slot machines and 60 gaming tables for a temporary period of four years.

The Edgewater Casino at Plaza of Nations opened on February 4, 2005.

>> Staff report on the Plaza of Nations application November 17, 2003
>> Staff memo to Council -- Plaza of Nations casino proposal January 19, 2004 (PDF, 90KB)
>> View the minutes from the Public Hearing held on January 20, 2004
>> View the Ipsos-Reid survey conducted in December, 2003 (PDF, 365KB)

Public Hearing Briefing Notes

>> Public Opinion Summary (PDF, 12KB)
>> Financial Trend Analysis (PDF, 11KB)
>> Employment Summary (PDF, 9KB)
>> Crime Issues (PDF, 9KB)
>> Gambling Addiction Issues (PDF, 104KB)
>> Traffic, Parking and Access Summary (PDF, 9KB)

More Information

>> More information on the City’s gambling policy, and other relevant Council reports

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