Aseneskak Casino lobbies PCs to move to Winnipeg

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This article was published 13/09/2016 (3311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE PAS — The last major hurdle to the largest casino in northern Manitoba moving to Assiniboia Downs is the provincial government, say the owners of Aseneskak Casino near The Pas.

Without moving to a larger market, the casino on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation will have to shut down in the next 21/2 years, Chief Clarence Easter of Chemawawin Cree Nation said Tuesday.

“We need their blessing on the location… and we need a bigger market,” Easter said.

A memorandum of understanding still exists between the casino and Peguis First Nation to relocate the casino to land near Assiniboia Downs, he said.

Chemawawin is one of six First Nations from the area’s Swampy Cree Tribal Council, which owns the casino.

In 2015, the Free Press reported the partnership was in the midst of negotiating a deal with Peguis First Nation to move the casino, which is involved in a joint venture with Assiniboia Downs.

Easter said talks with Peguis Chief Cindy Spence have been “optimistic” and Peguis remains “on board” with supporting the relocation. A request for comment from Spence was not returned. The casino would be part of a multimillion-dollar plan to turn 36 acres of the Downs into an urban reserve with the Manitoba Jockey Club — which operates Assiniboia Downs — as a partner.

The jockey club, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak also support the move, said casino CEO Suzanne Barbeau-Bracegirdle.

Final approval falls to the Pallister government, and so far, no one is ready to give the location a green light.

Crowns Minister Ron Schuler and Justice Minister Heather Stefanson met with the casino owners Monday, but weren’t ready to reveal their stance, Barbeau-Bracegirdle said.

“They asked a lot of questions. They didn’t say they wanted us to stay, but they also didn’t say they wanted us to leave,” she said.

In a prepared statement, Stefanson said her government won’t make “politically motivated agreements” like the former NDP government without a solid business plan from the casino.

“Our government is currently conducting a broader review of the implications of relocated or expanded gaming in Manitoba.

“The 2016 Manitoba Gaming Market Study indicates that the gaming market is oversupplied throughout the province, including in Winnipeg. Any change in capacity must therefore be supported by a solid market analysis and business plan,” she said.

The study called Manitoba one of the “most penetrated gaming markets in North America.” It noted any expansion in Winnipeg would take away from the two casinos in the city.

Easter said the casino hasn’t made a profit in the past 10 years as VLTs have expanded elsewhere and online gaming has become more prevalent.

Ten years ago, 200 people would go to the casino on a Saturday night. Now, a busy night means 80 customers, he said.

Tuesday afternoon, 24 customers were in the casino for an area that can operate up to 600 gaming machines. There are six gaming tables in use, while the casino has a licence for 40.

“We have all these other machines we aren’t using that is not generating revenue for our partners,” Barbeau-Bracegirdle said.

The casino is one of the top five employers in The Pas, a town with a population of 5,500.

There are about 140 jobs on the line if the casino shuts down — a major blow for The Pas, which is facing the loss of more than 300 jobs if Tolko Industries closes Dec. 2 as planned.

However, Easter said they plan to start a program that will move employees to the new location, allowing them to live part time at the site of the casino.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca