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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River Cree Resort and Cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
Located at the corner of<br />
Whitemud Drive and W<strong>in</strong>terburn<br />
Road.<br />
Mail<strong>in</strong>g Address:<br />
300 East Lapotac Boulevard<br />
Box 179<br />
Enoch, AB T7X 3Y3<br />
CASINO WEBSITE:<br />
http://www.rivercreeresort.com<br />
SIZE: 65,000-square-feet<br />
(approximate)*<br />
TABLE GAMES: 40*<br />
SLOT MACHINES: 600*<br />
POKER ROOM: YES (24-hr)<br />
AMENITIES:<br />
OTHER: More than 200 First<br />
Nations <strong>in</strong>dividuals are<br />
employed on staff<br />
* Accord<strong>in</strong>g to web site (January, 2007)<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
When the $178-million River Cree Resort and Cas<strong>in</strong>o opened on the<br />
Enoch Cree reserve just three kilometers west of Edmonton <strong>in</strong> October,<br />
2006, it became the first aborig<strong>in</strong>al-owned cas<strong>in</strong>o <strong>in</strong> the Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of<br />
<strong>Alberta</strong>. The facility was built as a “dest<strong>in</strong>ation” cas<strong>in</strong>o and houses<br />
restaurants and bars, two ice hockey r<strong>in</strong>ks, and a n<strong>in</strong>e-storey, 255-room<br />
hotel with a swimm<strong>in</strong>g pool and fitness centre.<br />
It is estimated that the cas<strong>in</strong>o will provide approximately $25 million a<br />
year for Enoch community <strong>in</strong>itiatives. Me'Chet Charities Limited holds<br />
the cas<strong>in</strong>o charity license for the Enoch Cree Nation under the First<br />
Nations Gam<strong>in</strong>g Policy. Me'Chet is the fulltime umbrella charity<br />
organization for the River Cree Cas<strong>in</strong>o, and ensures that the appropriate<br />
charity license is <strong>in</strong> order, and that charitable events with<strong>in</strong> our cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
are operated <strong>in</strong> accordance with the <strong>Alberta</strong> Gam<strong>in</strong>g and Liquor<br />
Commission's AGLC Regulations.<br />
HISTORY<br />
The Enoch Cree were one of the first to submit an application for a<br />
cas<strong>in</strong>o after that <strong>Alberta</strong> government announced <strong>in</strong> 2002 that it was<br />
prepared to accept proposals from prov<strong>in</strong>cial First Nations. In April,<br />
2004, the AGLC approved the band’s application to construct an onreserve<br />
cas<strong>in</strong>o. After wrangl<strong>in</strong>g with the City of Edmonton concern<strong>in</strong>g<br />
access to municipal utilities and services, the Enoch Cree offered to pay<br />
the city $1.4-million for water, sewer and firefight<strong>in</strong>g services for its<br />
proposed cas<strong>in</strong>o. The River Cree Resort and Cas<strong>in</strong>o f<strong>in</strong>ally opened <strong>in</strong><br />
October 2006 on the Enoch reserve lands just west of Edmonton.<br />
OWNERSHIP & MANAGEMENT<br />
The Enoch Cree Nation entered <strong>in</strong>to a partnership with Paragon<br />
Gam<strong>in</strong>g Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada to develop The River Cree Resort<br />
and Cas<strong>in</strong>o.<br />
The current Enoch population <strong>in</strong>cludes 1,776 members, with<br />
approximately 1,400 liv<strong>in</strong>g on reserve and the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g members<br />
liv<strong>in</strong>g off, primarily <strong>in</strong> Edmonton.<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 />
COMPETITION<br />
The River Cree Resort and Cas<strong>in</strong>o operates <strong>in</strong> competition with five<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g traditional Edmonton cas<strong>in</strong>os and one Edmonton rac<strong>in</strong>o. A<br />
seventh competitor is located <strong>in</strong> St. Albert, a city adjacent to<br />
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