Gambling income increases in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek

Casinos in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek reported an increase in gambling revenues of $4-million in the last fiscal year.

The casinos generated a total of $29.67 million in 2017–18, an increase of 17% from $25.33 million in 2016–17.

At Chances Fort St. John, revenues totaled $16.6 million, up $2.1 million from 2016 to 2017, which brought in $14.5 million.

Slots dominated the casino’s revenues, bringing in $15.09 million, up just over $2 million, or 15%, year-over-year from $13.08 million.

Table games brought in $1.33 million, up from $1.22 million in 2016–17. Bingo brought in $257,000, up from $207,000.

Revenues earned the casino $4.4 million in operator commission and another $829,000 in development commissions for facility investments.

At Chances Dawson Creek, revenues totalled $12.99 million, up $2.16 million, or 20%, year-over-over from $10.83 million.

Slots brought in $12.52 million, up from $10.35 million in 2016–17. Bingo brought in $477,000, up from $472,000.

The casino took $3.23 million in operator commissions and $639,000 in development commissions.

According to the lottery corporation, casinos keep 25 per cent of the net win from slots; 40 per cent of the net win from table games; 75 per cent of the poker rake; 75 per cent of craps; and 60 per cent of low limit blackjack.

Casinos also keep 60 per cent of bingo sales on the first $20,000 per week, 40 per cent on the next $60,000 per week, and 25 per cent greater than $80,000 per week, after prizes are paid.

In Fort St. John, Chances is among the city’s top 10 property taxpayers, and last month donated more than $5,000 to local non-profits from “found money” left over from gamblers — those little five and 10 cent cashout tickets that go unclaimed at the end of the day, and are collected and disbursed to groups quarterly.

The province awarded $319,150 in community gaming grants to 31 groups in Fort St. John in 2017–18.

In Dawson Creek, 31 groups received $508,710 in gaming grants.

The grants are funded from gambling revenues.

Source: alaskahighwaynews.ca