View Royal Casino to Undergo Extensive Redevelopment

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX: GC] and BCLC have announced plans to enhance gaming and entertainment options at the View Royal Casino. The planned upgrades are designed to respond to the growth opportunity in the Greater Victoria marketplace.

Since 2001, the View Royal Casino has been providing casino entertainment in the Greater Victoria area. The improvements featured in the proposed development plans will add 42,000 square feet to the current facility, transforming the gaming experience and making the View Royal Casino a full-service entertainment destination.

New features include new and modern dining options such as a buffet, casual lounge and bar, a  multi-purpose entertainment venue that will accommodate up to 600 guests, and an expansion of the gaming floor with 12 new live dealer table games and an additional 350 slot machines and electronic table games.

Renovations are expected to begin in 2017 with an expected completion date in the first half of 2018.

In addition to enhanced entertainment and job creation, these proposed improvements will also bring increased economic benefits to the Town of View Royal which shares its host local government payments with the City of Langford, City of Colwood, District of Metchosin, Township of Esquimalt, District of Sooke and District of Highlands. Once the upgraded facility is complete, it is expected to generate incremental revenue and host local government payments will increase as a result.

The current View Royal Casino, located at 1708 Island Highway, is 35,000 square feet with 555 slot machines and 15 live table games. In 2015/16, View Royal Casino generated $71.8 million in annual revenue, of which $4.1 million was distributed to seven municipalities on the West Shore.

Quotes:
Jim Lightbody, BCLC President & CEO
"We are excited to see these plans come to fruition and to support our plan to provide outstanding gaming entertainment in the Greater Victoria area. In the entertainment business we need to refresh and redevelop our properties to continue to delight our customers. We look forward to working with our service provider, Great Canadian Gaming Corp., in recreating the View Royal Casino and adding more entertainment for adults to enjoy."  

Rod Baker, Great Canadian President & CEO
"We are thrilled to be moving forward with such a significant redevelopment of our View Royal property, which will dramatically increase the entertainment value we can offer the Greater Victoria marketplace, while building on our history in the West Shore communities that dates back to 2001."

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a Canadian based company that operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company has 21 gaming properties, which consists of thirteen casinos, including a four Diamond resort hotel in Richmond, British Columbia and a four star hotel in Moncton, New Brunswick, four horse racetrack casinos, three community gaming centres and one commercial bingo hall. A key element of Great Canadian's business model is its commitment to social responsibility. "PROUD of our people, our business, our community" is Great Canadian's brand that unifies the company's community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually invests over $2.5 million in our communities, and in 2015, over 3,600 charitable organizations were supported by Great Canadian. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, a significant portion of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities is retained by our crown partners on behalf of their provincial government for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services.

ABOUT BCLC
BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation responsible for providing socially responsible gaming entertainment while generating income that benefits all British Columbians. Since 1985, BCLC has generated more than $19 billion to fund important provincial, community and charitable programs and services around the province.

SOURCE Great Canadian Gaming Corporation