In a recent vote, Vancouver’s ABC party has decided to change the city’s strict moratorium on gambling expansions. The amendment was passed despite opposition from health officials and calls for more public consultation.

ABC Councilors Approve Increase in Casino Slot Machines

The recent ruling allows new applications from the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which can increase the number of slot machines and gaming tables at existing venues such as the Parq Casino and Hastings Racecourseb, reported CTV News Vancouver. However, the amendment does not allow the construction of new casinos.

ABC councilors Mike Klassen, Lisa Dominato, Rebecca Bligh, Peter Meiszner, and Lenny Zhou voted in favor of the staff recommendation to relax the restrictions on gambling.

Peter Meiszner noted that the proposal is very modest. He underscored that it just allows the addition of machines within the currently operating casinos and not expanding or building new facilities.

Still, the decision was not passed with a unanimous vote. ABC councilor Sarah Kirby-Yung opposed the proposal citing significant reservations. She noted that according to the staff report, which was initiated by the BCLC, an increase of $5 million is expected in Vancouver’s annual gambling revenue. 

Kirby-Yung further argued that these financial projections unveil that the proposal has far more significance than it appears to, which in turn means that there will be a considerable increase in gambling activities in the city.

Health Officer Warns of Gambling Risks as Council Approves Expansion

Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Vancouver’s medical health officer, was also among the people who strongly opposed the amendment due to concerns about increased harm.  He highlighted that gambling disorders can lead to severe problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, and financial difficulties. 

Dr. Lysyshyn also reminded lawmakers that gambling addiction is recognized as a mental illness. He emphasized that even a small percentage of gamblers developing addictions could have far-reaching negative effects on families and communities.

OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle and Green councilors Adriane Carr and Pete Fry also voted against the proposal. Fry expressed criticism as there was no comprehensive public consultation and questioned whether the amendment of the 2011 moratorium was legal. 

On the other hand, Adriane Carr called for more extensive public engagement, noting that the original moratorium followed eight days and nights of public hearings.

BCLC representative Lara Gerrits defended the proposal saying that expansion is necessary. She pointed out that the city’s population has grown by 20% since the moratorium was put in place. She noted that the current gambling facilities often reach capacity, especially after major events. Gerrits also mentioned that 67% of gambling spending by Vancouver residents currently goes to other Lower Mainland facilities.The amended moratorium allows the council to assess each application individually, with input from Vancouver Coastal Health and the Vancouver Police Department. The police reported no specific concerns about the amendment during the council meeting.

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Two massive integrated casino resorts in Singapore will not meet their previously agreed to target dates for expanding – affecting not only their mid-term growth strategies but potentially government revenues.

In 2019, the Republic of Singapore in maritime Southeast Asia reached agreements with both Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands regarding expansions of the casino resorts. The investments were reportedly worth a total of about $6.77 billion (about SG$9 billion).

According to a report on Japan’s Nikkei Asia, Marina Bay Sands owner Las Vegas Sands stated in March 2023 that it would be pushing its target date back – the second time it had made such an announcement and it followed one made the year before.

Hotel Towers and Arena to be Completed in 2028

The new outline sees the construction of a planned 1,000-suite hotel tower and a 15,000-seat multipurpose arena commence in April of next year and be completed in April 2028.

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), located on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa began construction of a new attraction at Universal Studios Singapore, located on the resort property there, and renovations on the site’s aquarium. No activity has been reported on a new hotel at the resort that was previously announced as part of the planned expansion.

The expansion at RWS was originally planned to be completed either next year or in 2025 but in 2020 the resort’s parent company, Genting Singapore said that the Covid crisis would delay the project’s completion for an undetermined amount of time. No specific date for completion has been announced, but Nekeii media reports that an Asian analyst has mentioned that 2027 or 2028 are most likely.

Nearly all construction was sidelined in Singapore due to the coronavirus outbreak through nearly all of 2020 and most of 2021. Impacts included not only a shortage of migrants to accomplish the work but also supply chain disruptions that made it difficult to procure construction materials.

Chinese Tourism Expected to Rebound

According to analysts with Malayan Banking Berhad, by the end of 2023, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the region, and specifically the integrated resorts of Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels. However, the delay in growth plans does present some risk of dissuading visitors from coming.

Global inflation also has the potential to add costs to the projects. While Genting Singapore posted net profits in 2022 of some 86% over those of 2021, last year’s profits of SG$340 million (US$255m) were still only about half of what they were in 2019. However, since China has relaxed Covid-related travel restrictions recently those numbers are expected to eventually rebound.

Another Chinese tourist destination with casinos has seen marked growth and steadily increasing revenues since China’s “Zero-Covid” policy was jettisoned after civil unrest on the mainland and the recommendation of health authorities there to bring mitigation measures more in line with those in the rest of the world.

Source: Singapore’s casino resort expansions mired in delays, Nikkei Asia, April 9, 2023

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