BC Lotto Corp. wants to expand the number of slot machines by 25 per cent, from 200 to 250, at the Chances Gaming Centre in Maple Ridge.
BCLC made the request to increase the number of slot machines in an April 3 letter to the City of Maple Ridge.
BCLC is making the request because of the growing market in Maple Ridge and “continued customer demand.”
“This request follows BCLC’s assessment of the regional gaming market and will enable BCLC to address future market changes.”
Chances Maple Ridge, operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corp., licenced by BCLC, relocated to its new building on Lougheed Highway and 227th Street in 2013 with 200 slot machines.
Adding the extra electronic slot machines will require minimal changes to the gaming centre floor, resulting in a “minor reduction in the size of the bingo area due to declining demand for bingo gaming at the facility.”
The gaming centre’s cancellation of Friday and Saturday night bingo sessions in January angered long-time bingo players.
However, the gaming centre was still offering bingo on Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays evenings as well as on afternoons from Fridays to Tuesdays.
Chances said the Saturday night bingo sessions were losing money, even though they drew lots of players.
Great Canadian Gaming bought the assets of Ridge Meadows Bingo Association in 2007 for $1 million, with the money divided between about 30 local charities.
