New Gaming Opportunities Increase Charitable and Municipal Funding in Maple Ridge: RMBA

Yes to Expanded Gaming in Maple Ridge via a Community Gaming Centre

Mayor Gord Robson and city council are formally researching an important initiative to expand gaming in Maple Ridge. Our local politicians are looking for new sources of funding and see expanded gaming as one possibility. They are now asking for our help on some critical issues, including "how can we generate more funds for local charities?"

This is an important question. The Ridge Meadows Bingo Association (RMBA) believes it has the answer, based on its experience successfully operating the Haney Bingo Plex for more than two decades: Expand gaming in Maple Ridge via a Community Gaming Centre (CGC).

Our non-profit society has offered responsible gaming through its bingo hall since 1985. In fact, most area residents don't realize that bingo in our community already generates critical funding for 38 local charities, which last year received $1.75 million through affiliation with the Haney Bingo Plex. During the past 21 years, our bingo hall has raised more than $31 million to build parks, help athletes, support seniors and much much more. Monies raised are distributed locally through service clubs, sports teams, school associations and other charitable organizations based in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

So how would expanded gaming through a Community Gaming Centre improve the situation for taxpayers and residents in our town?

The CGC model is a new concept developed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) to provide enhanced entertainment for BC's bingo industry. CGCs offer players a wide variety of gaming and entertainment options. While overall bingo revenues in North America are down, the Haney Bingo Plex remains one of few bingo halls in Canada and the USA reversing this trend. By adding a CGC component, including slot machines, the new gaming choices would attract even more customers, especially those who have not traditionally sought out a bingo hall for their gaming enjoyment.

But unlike a full-fledged casino which cannibalizes bingo revenues, a CGC offers the best of both worlds to our local government as well our charitable members.

A CGC gives the municipality a 10% cut of net slot winnings, substantially helping all local taxpayers, while at the same time earns affiliated charities much bigger dollars, essentially helping all local residents.

Moreover, a CGC provides an upscale fun social setting that still offers several different forms of paper-based and electronic bingo, but also has slot machines, Keno, off-track horse betting and a variety of other lottery products for customers - basically everything except casino table games.

Simply put, a Community Gaming Centre is neither a bingo hall, nor a casino, but a place for adults to meet, socialize and have fun in an up-scale gaming environment. It offers local residents great 'winnertainment' in a classy new atmosphere with amenities such as a restaurant, lounge and stage. It's the perfect middle ground between a well-run bingo hall and large-scale casino.

BCLC enthusiastically endorses Community Gaming Centres as a viable alternative to casinos in smaller communities, especially those locations with very successful bingo halls. The provincial lottery corporation believes a CGC offers a competitive yet sustainable alternative to casino gaming.

We believe with support from the community and council that Haney Bingo Plex can transform itself into the first Community Gaming Centre in the Lower Mainland. CGCs are already successfully operating in Kelowna, Kamloops, Williams Lake and Dawson Creek, generating significant extra dollars from slot revenues for local charities and their respective municipal governments without the expensive gaming and policing problems often associated with casinos.

Over the coming weeks, the mayor and city council have invited community leaders and the public to a series of presentations on expanded gaming in Maple Ridge. We hope all participants listen carefully to the proposals outlined and then offer their support for expanded gaming through a Community Gaming Centre operated by our well-established non-profit Ridge Meadows Bingo Association.

As a community-based society governed by our 38-member charities, the RMBA has a 21-year track record of trust, integrity and goodwill in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. By entrusting our group with controlled expansion of gaming in our town, city council would ensure that the best interests of all stakeholders, taxpayers and residents are protected. Our association is in the perfect position to expand, manage and maintain responsible gaming in our community as effectively demonstrated day in, day out at our long-standing facility. Simply put, we offer gaming with a heart.

For more information, drop by the bingo hall at 11887 224th Street in Maple Ridge. The bingo hall employs more than 50 staff and operates seven days a week serving the residents and charitable organizations of our community.

Cathie Lemmen, President
Ridge Meadows Bingo Association