This modern Victoria casino is located in the township of View Royal and in the heart of the Westshore Communities about 5 to 7 minutes from Birds of a Feather B&B. It is a full service facility offering a wide variety of slot machines and table games.

• Over 35,000 square feet of gaming floor
• Over 400 slot machines
• All your favourite table games including Blackjack, Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, 3 card & 4 card Poker, and more
• Great Canadian Restaurant features a West Coast menu with a European flare – open for lunch and dinner
• Deli – Choose from a wide variety of sandwiches, salads & snacks
• Over 350 parking spaces
• Free coffee, tea & soft drinks for players on gaming floor

Enjoy a wide variety of slots and a multitude of table games. West coast cuisine is served in the on-site fully licensed restaurant.

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Casino expansion draws few public worries
By Amy Dove - Goldstream News Gazette - November 23, 2007

At twice the size, planned facility touted as tourist destination

The house always wins.

And while big plans to renovate and expand the great Canadian Casino in View Royal were unveiled this week, an open house and public hearing drew few comments from the public.

That may be because, according to Great Canadian spokesperson Howard Blank, the project is exactly what people want.

“We are setting it up to be a tourist destination,” Blank said.

If approved, the casino on Island Highway will almost double in size. The decorative tower outside will come down to make room for a more modern design incorporating day-lighting and an open plan gaming floor. A lounge and theatre area will be added as well.

The second floor will accommodate a 12-table poker room and live racetrack betting via television screens. A banquet room would be available to the public for meetings or even weddings, Blank said.

“This is one of the few properties that doesn’t have live entertainment,” Blank said, noting the new building could host large shows.

The expansion will cover the existing parking lot, calling for a parkade to be built onsite. At four levels, the structure is higher than the current building but efforts were made to turn it into a beautiful piece, Blank said.

The parkade would incorporate plants around the perimeter, up the sides and throughout the exposed roof-top. When full, the lot could accommodate 529 vehicles, with another five spots for buses in a separate designated area.

Casino staff have expressed interest in extending their liquor license onto the gaming floor, although that issue is not currently being discussed, Blank said.

To show their commitment to healthy gaming, however, the casino will hire a counsellor to be on site every day to help problem gamblers.

“If we are able to help one person we think we’ve done our job,” he said, noting his own grandfather was an addictive gambler.

The casino currently employs more than 250 full-time staff. Another 50 are expected to be hired once the expansion is complete.

Monday’s open house and Tuesday’s public hearing brought around six people to town hall. Approximately three attended the first hour of the open house and three more spoke during the public hearing.

Of the later, one wanted bike lanes, one worried about increased traffic and another worried about their business’s street profile. None spoke directly against the project.

The plans will be reviewed by View Royal advisory committees before returning to council in December. At that time the rezoning and development permit will be discussed.