Appetite for gaming growth dwindling: expert

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Posted January 20, 2013 5:16 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

SURREY (NEWS1130) – Surrey just put a stop to casino plans and Vancouver did it two years ago, so are casinos dead?

A public policy expert says he believes that’s it for gaming growth in the Lower Mainland.

SFU Professor Doug MacArthur says the recent decision made by Surrey shows that people don’t want any more casinos. “This does really suggest the future for casinos and casino expansion, on this scale at least, is pretty limited,” says MacArthur.

“It shows that people are really skeptical, people are really concerned, and people do not see casinos as a quality type of development that they want to see in their community,” he adds.

MacArthur says governments should steer away from depending on gaming revenue.

He suggests casino companies ensure their developments are small enough to gain people’s support.

But he expects planners to be pretty resistant to even go through that whole process.

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