Camrose Casino roll dice on another relocation application

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A Camrose casino has applied once again to relocate to south Edmonton after being denied two years ago, and local charities and non-profits are not happy about it.

“We strongly opposed the relocation in 2022 and our position stands in 2024,” said Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) executive director Gemma Dunn in a statement.

Capital City Casinos Ltd.’s Camrose Casino finds itself again in Step 2 of Alberta Gaming Liquor Cannabis’s (AGLC) three-step casino relocation process, in which AGLC invites all objections to the proposal. Like last time, local organizations are speaking out about the numerous issues they have with the application, many of which were cited by AGLC in its decision to block the casino move in 2022. The problems that local groups have with the move include issues regarding infrastructure, share of charitable profits, and some worry of the precedent it could set.

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The proposed facility is roughly the area of two football fields, and would be at 420 Parsons Rd. near Edmonton’s Ellerslie and Summerside neighbourhoods, which was part of Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang’s objection.

“I’m hearing a lot from residents about quality of life, and they’re rightfully concerned,” said Tang, whose ward is where the casino would land if its relocation were approved.

For Tang’s constituents, infrastructure is a concern because she said the casino would be physically close, while adding increased strain on the roadway, which she said was already squeezed.

Dave Berry, communication and engagement adviser for the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, said the new proposal — like the previous one — puts more financial strain on local charitable organizations.

“Last year, there were 111 community leagues that used just over $5 million worth of casino funding to support operations and projects that we’re working on,” said Berry.

Casino money, he explained, has fewer stipulations than other grants that go towards community leagues. Sometimes funds can only be used for specific purposes, but casino money can be used for a variety of costs, such as office rent for the EFCL or community rink operations in Westmount. Either way, the money earned in the city stays within the city, which is the difference with this proposal.

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Although the Camrose Casino would be located in Edmonton, the application said that it would still serve the rural charities.

“Edmonton-based charities wouldn’t be able to work in this casino at all,” said Berry.

“We’d be seeing a scenario where any extra revenue or anything like that is going right out of the city. And that is sort of our big issue with this proposal.”

In its impact assessment, AGLC laid out how it expected the move to affect stakeholders, which included what it said would be a “significant realignment in the Edmonton gaming market.” Other effects included a more than 50 per cent increase in rural charity pool payments, a five per cent decrease in urban charity pool payments, a two per cent decrease in host First Nations charity payments, and $19 million in new gaming revenue in the Edmonton market.

ECVO’s concerns were similar to EFCL’s.

“There remains a consequential difference in the complexity and number of people served in urban areas; any additional loss in funding for Edmonton non-profits will only result in an increase in strain on Edmontonians,” said Dunn.

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Both ECVO and EFCL questioned why the casino would be applying again so soon after being denied.

Camrose Casino general manager Hany Assal said in an email that the new application includes changes based on the last proposal’s feedback. The casino would have nearly 500 slot machines, 25 table games, and eight poker tables. AGLC senior communications adviser Lynden McBeth said in an email that “aspects of this application are different from the previous one, including ownership and the proposed games on site,” which is why AGLC is reviewing it.

“If this application is approved, a precedent will be set for other rural casinos to follow suit, which could result in decreased funding for urban organizations across the province that service a larger portion of Alberta’s population,” said Dunn.

AGLC said all objections to the relocation must be received on or before Aug. 21.

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