The operators of the soon to be opened Chances Gaming Centre on 1st Avenue West are taking steps to assure the community that they have a plan to help problem gamblers in the city.
Craig Briere, the Gaming Centre’s head man in Rupert says that the Centre will organize a committee that will make sure that Prince Rupert has the best preventative problem gambling strategies in the province. The issue has become an active one in the city as the Gaming Centre nears completion and seeks out its liquor licence from the province.
The latest developments on the gambling side of the development come as Prince Rupert City Council prepares to receive public comments on the liquor application on September 10th and then will hold a special session of Council on the 17th, when they will vote on whether to give the Gaming Centre their blessing regarding their application.
While the two issues aren’t directly related, there will no doubt be some commentary on Monday over the issue of how to work with those in the community with gambling problems, to avoid the temptation that the new Centre may bring. The committee announcement may be one way that the Gaming Centre uses to try take some of the potential negatives away from that debate.
In Thursday’s paper, The Daily News outlined what the plans are and the process may work.
GAMING CENTRE TAKING NO CHANCES
Chances gaming centre setting up committee to help problem gamblers
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pages one and five
The Chances Prince Rupert Gaming Centre is organizing a committee that will be tasked with ensuring Prince Rupert has the best preventative problem-gaming strategies in the province.
Craig Briere, Chances Gaming Centre, said they have contacted a number of stakeholders who will be involved in the committee to ensure they have the best proactive programs available.
“The committee will help us provide assistance in awareness and prevention programs,” said Briere. “We want to make sure people have the information so they understand this is entertainment, and if it becomes more than entertainment where they can go to get information.”
Chances Prince Rupert will be the first gaming provider in the province to spearhead such a committee. They have contacted a number of service providers – including the Salvation Army, Friendship House, city and RCMP- to participate/
“We were not looking for people who agree with gambling but people who are interested in ensuring that if people want to use the facility, they do so responsibly,” he said.
Gearing up for the opening this month of the new $13 million entertainment facility, Chances will be booking informational messages on responsible gaming through the media.
“We have a commitment to the community to ensure what is done is done as socially- responsibly as possible,” he said.
In addition to offering electronic bingo, the new facility will also have slot machines as well as other forms of entertainment. The organization currently has an application before the province for a liquor licence for the 390 person capacity gaming and convention centre.
The responsible gaming committee will help provide feedback on how the preventive measures are working and where more information should be provided.
While the B. C. Lottery Commission and province do provide some measures related to problem gambling, these are more reactive than proactive,” noted Briere.
For example, Northwest Addictions Services, with the support of the Problem Gambling Program, is hiring a Problem Gambling Prevention Worker to provide education and referral services in Prince Rupert and neighbouring communities.
The problem gambling counsellor is the last resort. We want to ensure there are many, many steps people can take before that.”
In addition, Briere representing Chances Prince Rupert, has been asked to sit on the province’s new B. C. Partnership For Responsible Gaming committee.
Chances Prince Rupert is only one of two service providers asked to sit on the committee, in part Briere believes because of their efforts locally.
“We want Prince Rupert to be a responsible gambling community,” he said. “If people aren’t spending disposable income, we don’t want them spending it.”
Craig Briere, the Gaming Centre’s head man in Rupert says that the Centre will organize a committee that will make sure that Prince Rupert has the best preventative problem gambling strategies in the province. The issue has become an active one in the city as the Gaming Centre nears completion and seeks out its liquor licence from the province.
The latest developments on the gambling side of the development come as Prince Rupert City Council prepares to receive public comments on the liquor application on September 10th and then will hold a special session of Council on the 17th, when they will vote on whether to give the Gaming Centre their blessing regarding their application.
While the two issues aren’t directly related, there will no doubt be some commentary on Monday over the issue of how to work with those in the community with gambling problems, to avoid the temptation that the new Centre may bring. The committee announcement may be one way that the Gaming Centre uses to try take some of the potential negatives away from that debate.
In Thursday’s paper, The Daily News outlined what the plans are and the process may work.
GAMING CENTRE TAKING NO CHANCES
Chances gaming centre setting up committee to help problem gamblers
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pages one and five
The Chances Prince Rupert Gaming Centre is organizing a committee that will be tasked with ensuring Prince Rupert has the best preventative problem-gaming strategies in the province.
Craig Briere, Chances Gaming Centre, said they have contacted a number of stakeholders who will be involved in the committee to ensure they have the best proactive programs available.
“The committee will help us provide assistance in awareness and prevention programs,” said Briere. “We want to make sure people have the information so they understand this is entertainment, and if it becomes more than entertainment where they can go to get information.”
Chances Prince Rupert will be the first gaming provider in the province to spearhead such a committee. They have contacted a number of service providers – including the Salvation Army, Friendship House, city and RCMP- to participate/
“We were not looking for people who agree with gambling but people who are interested in ensuring that if people want to use the facility, they do so responsibly,” he said.
Gearing up for the opening this month of the new $13 million entertainment facility, Chances will be booking informational messages on responsible gaming through the media.
“We have a commitment to the community to ensure what is done is done as socially- responsibly as possible,” he said.
In addition to offering electronic bingo, the new facility will also have slot machines as well as other forms of entertainment. The organization currently has an application before the province for a liquor licence for the 390 person capacity gaming and convention centre.
The responsible gaming committee will help provide feedback on how the preventive measures are working and where more information should be provided.
While the B. C. Lottery Commission and province do provide some measures related to problem gambling, these are more reactive than proactive,” noted Briere.
For example, Northwest Addictions Services, with the support of the Problem Gambling Program, is hiring a Problem Gambling Prevention Worker to provide education and referral services in Prince Rupert and neighbouring communities.
The problem gambling counsellor is the last resort. We want to ensure there are many, many steps people can take before that.”
In addition, Briere representing Chances Prince Rupert, has been asked to sit on the province’s new B. C. Partnership For Responsible Gaming committee.
Chances Prince Rupert is only one of two service providers asked to sit on the committee, in part Briere believes because of their efforts locally.
“We want Prince Rupert to be a responsible gambling community,” he said. “If people aren’t spending disposable income, we don’t want them spending it.”
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