Press Room

Smokers Welcome

The Edmonton Sun – Brookes Merritt

October 21, 2005

City casinos cry foul over new Enoch resort tobacco policy

Construction of the new River Cree casino at the Enoch Cree Nation is smoking along – but Edmonton casinos are going into nicotine fits over Enoch’s smoking policy.

Enoch has no smoking ban, unlike the City of Edmonton, and smoking will be permitted in approximately 30-50% of the new 62,600-square-foot casino, set to open in the fall of 2006.

“It’s kind of unfair. Reserves shouldn’t get any special treatment,” said Peter Wong, manager at Casino Yellowhead.

“It’s too soon to tell if it’s going to hurt our business. It could happen, though; any time a place is so close to the city, smokers may try to make it out there.”

Dawn DeGaves, of Casino Edmonton on Argyll Road, agreed.

“I feel the same way, but we may be affected less because we’re not as close to Enoch. And it looks like we’re bouncing back since the smoking ban. People are adjusting to it and it’s always packed in here.”

River Cree Resort and Casino is on the corner of Whitemud Drive and Winterburn Road, and could draw gamblers away from casinos in jurisdictions where smoking is forbidden.

But with 600 slots, 40 table games, and a 255-room, nine-storey Marriott hotel, it’s likely to give everyone a run for their money.

“This will be Alberta’s premier destination resort,” said River Cree vice president and GM Brian Lee.

Enoch Cree Nation Chief Ron Morin said the casino will generate between $2.5 and $3-billion for the band over the next 25 years, and more than twice that for the surrounding areas.

“This will change our lives forever in terms of economics,” he said. “The Enoch people need this.”

The new casino will create 700-800 full-time jobs, with up to 300 going to Enoch band members.

Morin said the casino will help improve the unemployment rates on the reserve, which hover around 60-70% in winter months, and 30-40% in summer.