BC’s Casino Renaissance

The Rat Pack had it down. The hippest hepcats in Vegas—Frank, Dino and Sammy—owned the strip and brought showbiz glamour to the desert town.

But what would those paragons of ’60s cool have made of Vancouver’s gambling options? If you’d asked that question a few years ago, the answer would probably have been “not much”—perhaps even “squaresville.” But with new casinos opening and existing ones expanding, even Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin might have flown in to down a martini, or to croon a couple of numbers at one of the new hotspots.

“You can’t compare how it was three or four years ago to where we’re at now,” says Howard Blank, Vice President of Media & Entertainment for Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. “We were antiquated—many of the facilities were table games only. Now you’re dealing with multi-restaurant properties with hotels, theatres, spas and retail corridors. There’s truly a resort-style facility to a casino that used to just stand on its own.”

The most Vegas-like, at least from an entertainment standpoint, are the destination casinos River Rock and Boulevard. With built-in facilities offering world-class musical and comedy acts, these two Great Canadian Casinos facilities are luring in even those whose idea of gambling is the office hockey pool.

Located east of Vancouver city limits in the suburb of Coquitlam, the 80,000-sq.-ft Boulevard Casino recently opened its Red Robinson Show Theatre. Named for the famous local radio personality who emceed concerts by the likes of Little Richard and Elvis Presley back in the golden age of rock ’n’ roll, the 1000-plus capacity venue lives up to its namesake’s reputation with the cream of contemporary and vintage performers. It’s easy to imagine Frank and Dean kibbutzing on the stage, which has hosted crooners like Tony Bennett and Paul Anka and comedy veterans like Joan Rivers and Don Rickles. Upping the ante, the venue boasts a dual-capability seating arrangement that encompasses theatre-style tiered seats, ideal for glitzy dance extravaganzas like the Bellydance Superstars and Night of the Sultans. With the press of a button, the seats lower to floor level, creating a cabaret-style club atmosphere better suited to dancing to classic rock acts like Loverboy and Cheap Trick, and party bands such as the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts.

Top: Patrons can play games and take in
Vegas-style entertainment at Boulevard
Casino; Bottom: Showgirls at
Boulevard Casino
(Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)Out in the mingling area on the second level, a selection of blown-up, black-and-white, ’50s-era photos culled from Robinson’s own collection add a nostalgic air to the modern theatre, as does Robinson’s original DJ booth. The downstairs lobby is dominated by a piano autographed by Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, and Donald Trump, among others. Lifesize statues of Marilyn Monroe and the Blues Brothers add to the showbiz ambience. So does the real-life Robinson himself—he hosts many of the theatre’s shows and can often be found chatting to patrons on the gaming floor beforehand.

Music and movie memorabilia also enliven the Backstage Grille. The restaurant offers standard fare like burgers, but its walls are hung with autographed movie posters and publicity photos collected over the years by Blank. Over at the hostess’ station stands a life-size Elvis (svelte, early King) statue, while a guitar—an autographed prop from the movie Josie and the Pussycats—hangs overhead.

For fun, loose lounge entertainment, Chantel’s hosts acts like Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band (a Neil Diamond tribute), Lesismore (retro jazz/blues), and the Tainted Lovers (new wave covers). Diners have their choice of Asian, French, and West Coast cuisines at the Metro Bistro.

River Rock Casino in Richmond, B.C.
(Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)While Boulevard caters to crowds from surrounding suburbs, Richmond’s slightly smaller (at 70,000 sq. ft.) casino at River Rock Casino Resort is perfect for out-of-towners. Located just a few minutes from Vancouver International Airport, the River Rock has 1,000 slot machines (a few more than Boulevard), Canada’s largest poker room with 25 tables, nine restaurants, lounges and bars, a 144-berth marina and a show theatre similar to the Red Robinson, complete with the funky, versatile seating option. It’s also one of the few casinos in B.C. that allows liquor service on the gaming floor. Lulu’s Lounge invites the weary card-player or casual visitor to catch some live entertainment. For sustenance, the International Food Court in the main casino offers an Italian deli (open 24 hours), the Chinese Noodle Shop (lunch time) and the American Grill (all day). For those looking for a caffeine fix or light snack, there’s Java Jack’s.

Over at the hotel, the Dockside Café has Asian and West Coast dishes and patio seating with a view of the resort grounds and nearby marina. A buffet, wraparound heated deck and a view of the Fraser River can be found at Runway 26. That view is also a feature of Tramonto, where diners are invited to feast on Southern Italian cuisine and select a perfect pairing from a wine list of more than 500 red and whites. In the hotel lobby, the Fireside Lounge keeps revellers warm with cocktails and a double-sided fireplace. The hotel’s 220 rooms, spa, and indoor tropical swimming pool and water slide make the River Rock a luxurious retreat.

Edgewater Casino (Todd Duncan)Downtown Vancouver visitors are more likely to strike out for the Edgewater Casino. Like the Great Canadian Casinos suburban facilities, this Paragon Gaming-operated casino is open 24/7. Just steps away from GM Place and BC Place Stadium, the 30,000-sq.-foot facility keeps gamblers busy with 48 tables, an additional 12 poker tables, and over 500 slot machines. Hungry visitors can visit the Splash Bistro for a full menu. Current plans for the False Creek location include a bar, scheduled to open April 1, that will take advantage of the casino’s scenic location by opening out onto the creek. And the Edgewater’s 400-seat theatre—which, until recently, hosted top names in comedy—will soon be utilized for a variety of acts.

The Edgewater is the only “full-service” casino in Vancouver city proper—that is, the only one to offer slot machines as well as tables. If you can do without the one-arm bandits, the smaller-by-a-half Great Canadian Casino (operated by the same folks behind Boulevard and River Rock) in the Holiday Inn on West Broadway, just over the bridge from downtown, features 30 gaming tables and a restaurant, the Great Canadian Bistro.

If you and your own rat pack are visiting Vancouver Island, fret not—the Great Canadian Casino View Royal, in the township of View Royal near Victoria, has 35,000 sq. feet of gaming floor that includes 400 slot machines. Another Great Canadian Casino, this one one in downtown Nanaimo features slots, tables, and a bistro.

Another player on the scene, Gateway Casinos, is redeveloping its Burnaby location. A new facility across the street from the current location will see an increase of gaming space from 30,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. Renovations to the 200 rooms of the new site’s current building, the Radisson Burnaby, will give the hotel a facelift, while the main floor casino will feature 1,000 slot machines, 85 gaming tables and 25 poker tables. A 200-seat show lounge will make entertainment visible to everyone on the floor. The Villa Casino, as it’s called, is expected to open in the late spring of 2008.

And, over in New Westminster, the Royal City Star Riverboat Casino will be shutting down in time for the opening of a new facility in early December. Over 100,000 sq. ft. will be devoted to gaming space, along with an interactive sports bar called Schanks, already popular in Alberta, offering half-court basketball and virtual driving ranges. A Kirin Chinese food restaurant will also be part of the package at the newly minted Starlight Casino. In Langley, another Gateway holding is the Cascades Casino in the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre. Besides a full range of games, Cascades features a 420-seat state-of-the-art Summit Theatre that hosts top-flight comedy and music acts. The 77-room hotel has the Pinnacle Bar & Grille with a buffet, the Glacier Bar for drinks, and a Starbucks espresso bar.

“Now that we have these fabulous facilities,” says Blank, “the key is maintaining an excellent service level, meeting the needs of our guests and expanding our market through tourism from Washington State, Southern California, and other provinces. Vancouver is a world-class city, it’s known for the Olympics, and we have properties that can augment people’s vacations.”

Heck, with all this action, even the Rat Pack would feel right at home.