Edgewater Casino may shut down if B.C. Place proposal rejected, Paragon Gaming warns city

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      A representative of Paragon Gaming has informed Vancouver city council that the Edgewater Casino could close in 2013 if a proposal to move the facility to B.C. Place is not approved.

      In a letter today (March 14), Paragon secretary John Cahill told Mayor Gregor Robertson and councillors that the casino’s “ability to stay at the Plaza of Nations past 2013 is negated” by three factors, including Canadian Metropolitan Properties’ goal of redeveloping the site.

      “Council should consider the near term future of the existing Edgewater beyond February, 2013 is highly uncertain given the inability to achieve a lease term extension and, more importantly, pending operational impacts caused by development of CMP’s site,” Cahill wrote.

      “Accordingly, the flow of gaming revenues to the City and the permanence of over 600 jobs which currently exist at Edgewater are not guaranteed, and Council needs to understand that as it considers its decision on this application.”

      Here’s the full letter:

      Paragon Gaming letter to Vancouver city council - March 14, 2011

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      Comments

      22 Comments

      LTD.Edition

      Mar 14, 2011 at 4:22pm

      Resorting to threats. Ha. I'm sure if it closes people will go to one of the many other betting establishments around the city. Not only that but they'd be closing down a rather profitable business (when does that happen?).

      I say call the bluff. At worse we'll have people lose their jobs but thats why we have EI and other programs to help people find new jobs (Worked for me).

      analytic

      Mar 14, 2011 at 4:38pm

      Terrific idea..we don't need these people.

      urbn

      Mar 14, 2011 at 4:47pm

      If this is such a lucrative business, why do you close? I guess when when you look like you're losing...you threaten. Classy!

      Dan Clay

      Mar 14, 2011 at 5:29pm

      boo hoo take your money and run, you had no interest in supplying jobs,, it would seem
      if plans to close
      are yours... if you dont get your way,,
      make room for ethical corporations to come here, and I know there are some...

      Piker

      Mar 14, 2011 at 6:28pm

      Good, Great Canadian or Gateway will be happy to pick up the pieces...

      NDB

      Mar 14, 2011 at 6:36pm

      Thanks for the "warning'...now pack up and fcuk off.

      Don in Victoria

      Mar 14, 2011 at 7:22pm

      Casinos make such exhorbitant amounts of money that none will ever close anywhere. Call Paragon Gaming's bluff.

      Norman

      Mar 14, 2011 at 9:11pm

      GOOD!

      KMB

      Mar 14, 2011 at 10:19pm

      What NDB said.

      pippatch

      Mar 14, 2011 at 10:36pm

      Can you spell B-L-A-C-K-M-A-I-L
      Close the door on your way out!