Saanich council votes against pursuing casino

The District of Saanich won’t be home to our region’s second casino.

After being approached by the BC Lottery Corp., Saanich council decided to take a closer look at the pros and cons of the revenue-generator. Responses from Saanichites appears to have tipped the decision to decline.

“The cons would be around money laundering, the deleterious effects of gambling addiction on a family, etc.,” Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes told the Times Colonist. “The pros would be the economic-development side around entertainment, hotels.”

A casino would have brought in up to $3 million per year for the municipality, but ultimately wasn’t the right fit for the community.​