Gateway Casinos and Entertainment’s proposal to invest CA$70 million in the establishment of a casino/hotel complex at the Delta Town & Country site is heading to the final stage of the approval process. The proposed project is expected to go to the local council for final approval on July 30th.
If everything goes according to plan and the gambling operator gets the authorities’ approval, Gateway Casinos would be able to start the construction process this fall. The grand opening of the venue would take place in 2020.
The casino/hotel project, called Delta Cascades Casino, has been described as a “modest-sized” gambling facility. The venue is expected to start operation with 500 slot machines and 24 gaming tables, as well as with up to six e-tables. After the first six months of the casino operation, a review would most likely be held, but the operator would need further city approval in case that it wants to make any major changes in the gambling venue offering.
As mentioned above, the CA$70-million complex would offer a 116-room hotel, meeting spaces and dining areas. As revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Casinos, Tony Santo, the complex is planned as a “family-friendly” place.
Currently, the local host government receives a 10% net share of the total amount of gambling revenues brought to the province. According to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s estimates, the gambling revenue generated by the Delta Cascades Casino would be toward the upper end of its initial annual projection of between CA$1.5 million and CA$3 million.
Preliminary Approval for the Project Given by City Council in May 2018
A preliminary approval with a 4-2 vote in favor of the gambling operator’s application was given to Gateway Casinos and Entertainment at a public hearing held at the beginning of May.
Back in 2017, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation gave the green light to a casino to open in Delta Town, and it was Gateway Casinos that was chosen as the gambling facility’s future operator. Since then, a number of information campaigns, consultations and meeting have been held. The first and second reading to the proposed casino and hotel complex development project was then held by the City Council, with a public hearing finally scheduled for May 1st.
Due to the large public interest towards the project, a second hearing was scheduled for May 2nd, with the Delta City Council finally giving its approval for the planned CA$70-million investment of Gateway Casinos.
Gateway Casinos revealed the design of the proposed casino and hotel complex in April 2018, saying that the venue would be built at the Delta Town & Country Inn’s site in Ladner. The project is expected to bring up to 700 new jobs to the area, which according to Mr. Santo would be of great benefit for both Ladner and the City of Delta.
Gateway Casinos and Entertainment already operates a number of gambling facilities situated in Kamloops, Langley and Penticton, British Columbia.
