$218 million from bingo halls

B.C. casino revenues climbed 11 per cent last year to more than $1.2 billion.

Lower Mainland casinos raked in the bulk of that, collecting $870 million in 2006-07, according to the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s annual report.

The single biggest generator was Richmond’s River Rock Casino, where gamblers left behind a total of $233 million, up eight per cent.

It was the only casino where table game revenue of $125 million beat the slot machines, which took in $108 million there.

Burnaby’s Gateway casino took in $164.8 million (up nine per cent), with Coquitlam’s Boulevard casino close behind at $158.2 million (up 22 per cent).

Langley’s Cascades casino was fourth with nearly $115 million in its first full year of operation and Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino in Surrey took in $51.9 million (up 11 per cent.)

Total BCLC revenues hit $2.4 billion, with nearly $1 billion coming from lotteries and $218 million from bingo halls.

The corporation’s profit margin rose to 42 per cent, with total profit after expenses passing $1 billion for the first time.

More than $140 million in grants went to community and charitable groups.

Revenue gains are credited in part to ongoing efforts to upgrade older slot machines, the introduction of new games like Pacific Hold’Em Poker, and the addition of slot machines in new community gaming centres.

However, the report notes there have been delays in opening those new centres, which are often updated bingo halls and are central to the BCLC’s strategy to offset the decline of paper bingo.

The BCLC projects net profits will rise $124 million or 12 per cent over the next three years.

Despite the “strong performance” of the casinos, not enough people overall are either betting or playing various lotteries or bingos, according to the BCLC.

The report estimates 61 per cent of B.C. adults participated in some form of gaming last year, but that was below the corporation’s target of 65 per cent, a goal that is rising to 68 per cent by 2009.

“It is our objective to achieve a high level of participation while emphasizing responsible play,” the report said.

The annual report puts current public support of gaming at 56 per cent, above the BCLC’s target of at least 52 per cent backing.

The report acknowledges the Ombudsman’s damning findings in May that customers have been inadequately protected from potential fraud by lottery retailers, who sometimes have won with disturbing frequency.

Corporation president and CEO Vic Poleschuk was fired last month.

“We take the report seriously,” his replacement, Dana Hayden, said in the BCLC annual report. “The industry knows that it must now meet a higher standard of player protection.”