Casinos in Alberta - Alberta Gambling Research Institute - University ...
Casinos in Alberta - Alberta Gambling Research Institute - University ...
Casinos in Alberta - Alberta Gambling Research Institute - University ...
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Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead (Edmonton)<br />
12464 153 Street<br />
Edmonton, AB<br />
T5V 1S5<br />
(780) 424-9467<br />
CASINO WEBSITE:<br />
http://www.cas<strong>in</strong>oabs.com/<br />
SIZE: 75,000-square-feet<br />
TABLE GAMES: 34*<br />
SLOT MACHINES: 762*<br />
POKER ROOM: YES (15)<br />
AMENITIES: Three<br />
restaurants, cabaret stage, &<br />
three waterfalls.<br />
OTHER:<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS employs a<br />
comb<strong>in</strong>ed total of approximately<br />
1800 employees <strong>in</strong> its cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
facilities.<br />
* <strong>Alberta</strong> Gam<strong>in</strong>g and Liquor<br />
Commission figures as listed <strong>in</strong> Canadian<br />
Gam<strong>in</strong>g News, Dec. 2005 / Jan. 2006.<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
The western-themed Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead is located <strong>in</strong> a northern<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial area of the City of Edmonton near the busy east-west<br />
Yellowhead Trail. It is reportedly one of the largest cas<strong>in</strong>os <strong>in</strong> the<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ce. It is also the largest of the four <strong>Alberta</strong> cas<strong>in</strong>os privately<br />
owned by He<strong>in</strong>z Oldach’s Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS. The approximately 200 nonprofit<br />
societies operat<strong>in</strong>g at Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead annually are reported to<br />
make an average of $70,000 for two nights work (as of December<br />
2003).<br />
HISTORY<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead opened <strong>in</strong> August 2000 at a cost of $16-million. This<br />
facility was essentially a replacement for the city’s Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS Downtown<br />
at 102 nd St. and 105 th Ave. (opened ~1990) which itself had moved from its<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>al location <strong>in</strong> a refurbished warehouse on 112 th St., North of Jasper<br />
Ave. (opened <strong>in</strong> 1981).<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS is owned by He<strong>in</strong>z Oldach and he has been runn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
charitable <strong>Cas<strong>in</strong>os</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Alberta</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ce 1973. Oldach began his bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
career as general manager of the carnival rides arm of Acme. When he<br />
was 28, Oldach and Acme colleague Harry Nash bought the carnival<br />
company, added new rides, and, <strong>in</strong> 1973, <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>Alberta</strong> B<strong>in</strong>go<br />
Supplies Ltd. (hence the name ABS).<br />
OWNERSHIP & MANAGEMENT<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead is privately owned by He<strong>in</strong>z Oldach’s Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS<br />
(<strong>Alberta</strong> B<strong>in</strong>go Supplies, Ltd.). ABS was <strong>in</strong>corporated 1973 and is<br />
Canada’s oldest cas<strong>in</strong>o operator and largest operator <strong>in</strong> the Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of<br />
<strong>Alberta</strong>. Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS owns four cas<strong>in</strong>os plus a 25% share <strong>in</strong> the Royal<br />
City Star Riverboat Cas<strong>in</strong>o <strong>in</strong> New Westm<strong>in</strong>ster, B.C. SOURCE:<br />
Conversation with Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS Senior V-P Barry Pritchard (October<br />
19 th , 2004).<br />
RECENT EVENTS<br />
In October, 2006, the River Cree Resort and Cas<strong>in</strong>o opened on the<br />
Enoch reserve just west of the City of Edmonton. In November, 2006,<br />
the Century Cas<strong>in</strong>o and Hotel opened <strong>in</strong> northeast Edmonton.<br />
On July 1, 2005, a ban on smok<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> bars, cas<strong>in</strong>os and b<strong>in</strong>go halls <strong>in</strong><br />
the City of Edmonton came <strong>in</strong>to effect.<br />
COMPETITION<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Yellowhead operates <strong>in</strong> competition with four exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
traditional Edmonton cas<strong>in</strong>os, one Edmonton rac<strong>in</strong>o, and a First Nation<br />
cas<strong>in</strong>o on the Enoch reserve just west of the city limits. A seventh<br />
competitor is located <strong>in</strong> St. Albert, a city adjacent to Edmonton.<br />
15
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