After the major gaming expansion, the rebranded Elements Casino Victoria had its grand opening last month but construction work on its exterior is still underway. Transforming the old gambling venue into a fun and diverse entertainment hub, its operator Great Canadian is now creating a revamped look for the casino, with the new exterior expected to be finished by the end of the month.
Last year, one of the largest gambling and hospitality companies in Canada, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, started an ambitious gaming expansion project at the old View Royal Casino in the town of View Royal in British Columbia. In fact, the casino was not even that old – it opened in 2001 on Vancouver Island, but its operator decided to expand the gaming offerings and launched renovation works in January 2017. The renovated and expanded facility more than doubled in size and from 30,000 square feet, its gaming floor increased to 72,000 square feet. The property, rebranded as Elements Casino Victoria, now has around 770 slot machines and 26 gaming tables.
After 15 months of renovations, the casino held its grand opening on May 5, with stars such as Canadian rock musician Tom Cochrane and his ban Red Tiger performing on the stage of the new Platinum Room. The concert hall has more than 500 seats and is expected to become the new entertainment centre of Vancouver Island. The new casino floor will feature live poker tournaments and in addition, the facility has several dining outlets – a buffet and a la carte restaurants, an Asian diner and a burger restaurant.
Despite the grand opening last month, however, construction work on the exterior is still not finished. There will be a water feature with a pond, as well as northeast stairs and beautiful landscaping around the Elements Casino Victoria. According to Chris Lynn, executive director of Vancouver Island casino operations for the Great Canadian Gaming Corp., construction should be completed by the end of June.
More Jobs and Improved Economic Opportunities for the Region
The gaming expansion has created more jobs in the area – now the renovated casino employs more than 300 people and continues to hire. However, this is not the only way the rebranded casino is contributing to the local community. The construction work required a huge investment of around $13.7 million, View Royal Mayor David Screech says. This means that many companies in the region have seen a rise in the business in the past year and this includes firms in various sectors such as construction, transport, energy, services, and more.
The 500-seat theatre will host concerts and comedy shows during weekends, but it can also be used for corporate and social events such as conventions, meetings, and celebrations. Lynn explains that with the addition of new facilities and entertainment options, Elements Casino Victoria will be much more than just a gambling venue. It will have something for everyone, the exec adds. In fact, with the grand opening already taken place, this is the largest all-inclusive, full-service gaming entertainment venue on Vancouver Island.
It is expected to generate higher revenues and make larger payments to the hosting cities. In the fiscal 2015-2016 year, the casino reported $71.8 million in revenue and gave $4.1 million to a total of seven municipalities. The towns of View Royal and Langford traditionally receive the largest share of casino winnings. Great Canadian is now looking at a hotel offering with no clear schedule planned.
