Gaming foes worry casino move will lead to more gambling

An artist's rendering of plans for a $450-million casino complex near BC Place. (CTV)

Vancouver's Edgewater Casino has been given the green light to move to a new location at BC Place, and critics are concerned the relocation will pave the way for more gambling in the future.

At a meeting Tuesday morning, councillors voted to let the casino pack its bags for a hotel and entertainment complex planned near the stadium. The decision follows a vote in April barring Edgewater from expanding its gambling operations by at least 600 slot machines in the new location.

Since the April vote, Mayor Gregor Robertson has pledged to put a moratorium on casino expansions. At Tuesday's meeting, he reaffirmed that vow, promising, "There will be no expansion of gambling under my watch in this chair."

But Sandy Garossino, who fought the gaming expansion as part of the "Vancouver Not Vegas" group, said she's concerned that future councils won't honour Robertson's promise.

"It's clear that two football fields of casino floor have been approved by this council.... The only question is how many slot machines and gaming tables are going to go into that facility," she said. "The door is wide open for a mega casino at BC Place."