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May 23, 2008 -
Look out Las Vegas, Vancouver, British Columbia may just start giving you a
run for your money. Not that Vancouver city officials are trying to do that, but
the casino operators are certainly doing all they can to cater to gamblers in
true Vegas fashion. As was and continues to be the case in Las Vegas, it's the
force of competition that is driving casino operators to step up their overall
entertainment offering.
The idea is to keep players around longer, who are more apt to jump around
from casino to casino while spending late nights in the gambling district. While
that may still be the case in the heart of Vegas, where visitors like to walk
and roam to take in all the sights and sounds of the Strip, the point is to keep
patrons (they don't necessarily even need to be gamblers) close by and divulging
in other entertainment options, which in some cases, can be the real money
makers for casino resort operators.
A perfect example is Vancouver's Edgewater Casino, where $1 million in
renovations have just been completed. The finished project is the 290-seat
Stadium Club Theatre, where everything from concerts to boxing matches can be
hosted. Currently, it's the "Burlesque Beauties" who if you haven't seen, just
look them up on You Tube. You'll probably be on the next flight to Vancouver.
Other casinos expanding their entertainment offering are Starlight Casino,
where a Schanks Sports Grill (costing several million) proudly displays 120
high-definition video screens and offers mini golf, indoor driving range/fantasy
golf, billiards and off-track betting - a true sports bar. And just around the
corner in October will be the unveiling of the $153 million Grand Villa Casino
offering an expansive 100,000 square feet of casino floor space, hotel,
conference center, fusion restaurant, glamorous bars and a 200-seat theatre.
Originally published:
May, 2008 | Categories:
Gambling
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