Osoyoos Indian Band is ready to bring gaming operation to the area and thus support its own tribal community down the road. The proposal that is currently on the table relates to a community gaming center or a casino venue that could have a footprint of 6,000 to 7,500 square feet once the building project is finished. This Tuesday saw a meeting showcasing the City Council support of this idea.
First Nations casino locations are a popular gaming offering across the Canadian provinces, as players are willing to get a taste of something different. The Osoyoos Indian Band is located in the Okanagan valley in British Columbia surrounded by an environment that could potentially attract a crowd. Osoyoos Lake is famous for the beaches it has on offer, as well as the warm water.
Gaming Projects Reviewed
Now the tribal nation is ready to take things to the next level and receive permission for its own gaming operation. The proposed casino venue or gambling center eyes a location for future development on Highway 3, in the vicinity of Petro Canada gas station. Such positioning is projected to facilitate access to it, as the area is already a high-traffic one.
The proposed gaming building would come with about 150 slot machines installed on the gaming floor, as well as 100 machines for electronic bingo. The innovative offering is a modern alternative to traditional bingo that could attract a crowd of enthusiasts to the gaming area. Moreover, the proposed venue would also come with an off-track betting zone, in order to be competitive to rivals.
For the community ready for something new, there would also be family-friendly offerings available on site. The 1,500 square foot bistro is projected to bring a crowd and welcome up to 60 individuals at a time. Locals are expected to have special dinners and spend some quality time with their loved ones in an inviting atmosphere.
Osoyoos Gaming Evaluation
In order to truly represent the tribal culture and history and make it a recognizable location, the new casino or gambling venue would feature signature tribal touches, as well as memorabilia transporting players back in time. Osoyoos chief administrative officer Allan Chabot wants to see tribal gaming expansion in the area and a conversation has been in progress with Mayor Sue McKortoff. Some of the benefits of this project would be more jobs created.
The report presented in relation to this project states that more individuals are expected to perceive the area as a destination for pastime activities and gambling ones. Gaming revenue allocations are also going to support the host community and they would be discussed in the future. A socio-economic impact of this proposed project would also be estimated in the foreseeable future.
It should be taken into account that there are commercial casino locations north of Osoyoos. Cascades Casino Penticton, Playtime Casino Kelowna, Chances Kelowna, as well as Lake City Casino in Vernon are already booming gaming venues bringing a well-rounded gaming portfolio. The addition of a tribal gaming venue south might cause concern, as more individuals would be drawn to the new location.
