N.B. wagers on establishing a casino

New Brunswick's government is bettingthat building a casino will help move the province toward self-sufficiency.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau laid down his hand on the province's new gaming policy on Thursday. It includes a notification that a request for proposals has been issued to establish a "destination gaming" facility in the province by 2010.

It makes New Brunswick the ninth province in Canada to approve casino gaming.

Thecasino will have between 400 and 800 electronic gaming terminals and at least12 gaming tables. Whetherpoker and off-track betting are included will be left toproponents to decide, Boudreau told a news conference.

Bidderswill also have the option of combining the casino with a race track, hotel, convention centre orentertainment theatre.

The government will not provideany funding forthe construction of the casino and the winning bidder will be responsible for all costs related to designing, building, financing and equipping the facility.

The government has not indicateda specific location for the facility.

Proponents will have to conduct their own research to determine the available markets in different areas in the province, Boudreau said.

An independent body willevaluate the proposals, based on business and economic sense.

The introduction of a casino will broaden the visitation experience in New Brunswick, Boudreau said.

The province's tourism industry has been faltering over the past five years with a 25 per cent decline in visitors.

A casino may encourage tourists to stay in the province longer and keep New Brunswickers at home rather than travelling to other jurisdictions for gaming, he said.

After the casino is constructed, the province will receive half of its profits,expected to total $25 million annually.

The revenues will gotoward other provincial programsdirected at increasing New Brunswick's self-sufficiency by 2026.

Also under the new gaming policy, video lottery terminals will be banned from restaurants that minors are allowed to enter on their own.

The restaurants will have until April 2009 to remove the terminals.

There are too many VLTs in too many sites, Boudreau said, and the number of locations whereVLTs are allowedwill be reduced from 625 to 300.

The total number of VLTs allowed in the province at a given time will see a 25 per cent reduction from 2,650 to 2,000.

Bars and Royal Canadian Legions will be allowed to keep the VLTs and even increase their numbers. But a moratorium will be placed onnew sites until 2008.

The new policy will require workers in VLT locations to receive mandatory training regarding the signs of gambling addiction.

The machines currently generate about $135 million in revenue for the province a year.

Legislation will be introduced to regulate charitable gaming activities, including the licensing of Texas hold 'em poker tournaments.

The province will alsodouble its funding for addiction programs to $1.5 million annually.