Victoria considers pursuing casino for Crystal Garden

The City of Victoria is examining the possibility of pursuing a casino for the under-used Crystal Garden, and a new hotel for the adjacent Apex lot.

Canada.-  The City of Victoria is considering to pursue a casino for the under-used Crystal Garden, and a new hotel for the adjacent Apex lot, which is currently home to a rental car agency.

The city staff prepared a report recommending the city to respond to the second phase of the B.C. Lottery Corp.’s request for expressions of interest for a casino with a letter identifying the site as a potential location.

According to Mayor Lisa Helps, a draft letter in the report that suggests the Crystal Garden is simply offering another option to the BCLC. “I think it’s important to note that even if we identify [Crystal Garden and the Apex site], we are not saying this is the only place we would accept a casino,” she said. “It could go anywhere along the Douglas or Blanshard corridor or in the James Bay tourism district.”

On its part, the BCLC has said it hopes to increase revenue beyond the CAD45 million (US$ 34.85 million) it already collects from the View Royal casino by opening a second gaming centre in the region. The corporation identified Victoria and Saanich as contending municipalities.