Since 2001, the provincial government has aggressively expanded gambling in cities and towns across the province. In order to get needed municipal approval, applicants for new licenses glowingly cited the benefits to charities and non-profits from all the new money.
There's just one catch: None of it was true.
After using the charities' good name and good will to persuade reluctant municipalities to allow expanded gambling in our communities, the provincial government abandoned them completely. While gambling profits have skyrocketed since 1999 - more than doubling to over $1 billion - payments to charities and non-profits have fallen by $48.5 million to $112.5 million.
Today, charities and non-profits get even less than they did in 1995, and do not receive a nickel, not one red cent, from all the expanded gambling in BC.
This violates a comprehensive and binding revenue sharing formula signed by the province, the Union of BC Municipalities, and the BC Association for Charitable Gaming, which grants 33.3% of net proceeds to charities. The government has unilaterally cut charities to 10.42%.
Edgewater Casino, owned and operated by a major Las Vegas casino developer, is applying to the City of Vancouver for a license expansion, allowing it to build a massive, two hotel, Las Vegas-style mega-casino onto BC Place Stadium. They requested the retractable roof, so we gave it to them.
The BC Association for Charitable Gaming represents some 6800 charities and non-profits affected by gambling policy in BC, including the Canadian Red Cross, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Vancouver International Writers Festival. We ask Vancouver City Council to stand up and protect our charities and non-profits, and delay hearing the Edgewater expansion application until the provincial government adheres to or renegotiates its agreement with the BCACG.
Vancouver and BC charities and non-profits need your help today:
1. Go to BC Association for Charitable Gaming's website and sign the Vancouver petition.
2. Call or write Vancouver City Council and tell them that you expect them to stand up and protect charities and non-profits.
3. Spread the word to anyone you know who volunteers, donates, or helps in our charitable and non-profit sector, or anyone who cares about Vancouver. Share the Open Letter to Rich Coleman on the BCACG's website.
4. For more information or to sign up for the news update list, please contact the BCAGC.
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