New Burnaby casino targets high rollers

[SpongeG]

I heard they were giving away $50 in free gas today and it cause some chaos in the area...

New Burnaby casino targets high rollers

Eighth betting emporium in the area will feature baccarat, but not poker

The old Villa Hotel property in Burnaby becomes Metro Vancouver's latest and last glitzy casino next week when it opens as the Grand Villa Casino.

The 100,000-square-foot gambler's paradise with 50 gambling tables and more than 1,000 slot machines is the first phase of a $180-million Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Inc. project that includes a spring 2009 opening of a 200-room Delta Hotel & Conference Centre.

B.C. Lottery Corp. policy calls for no further casino expansion within Metro Vancouver after the Grand Villa opens near Highway 1 and Willingdon.

A market that in the 1990s rejected the concept of a downtown Vancouver waterfront casino now embraces at least eight major casino/slot-machine facilities -- including River Rock, Boulevard, Fraser Downs, Cascades, Hastings Racecourse, Edgewater, Starlight and now the Grand Villa.

"We'll draw people from throughout Greater Vancouver because it's near the highway and so accessible," Gateway chief executive officer Dave Gadhia said in an interview on the casino floor, as workers prepared for the Wednesday opening.

"It's a very visible sight and you can get here in less than 10 minutes from the North Shore in non-rush-hour traffic."

The new casino is designed around an Italian villa theme, with water features, wood, natural colours and vibrant lighting that Gadhia said will bring a certain level of "elegance and sophistication."

There are several bars and restaurants in the casino, along with a 120-seat show lounge. But there are no poker rooms, considered a must by other casinos due to the game's surging global popularity.

Gadhia feels the poker market is already well served by other casinos in the region so Grand Villa will target high rollers attracted to other games of chance, especially baccarat.

The casino features a room dedicated solely to baccarat -- with exclusive food and beverage service, dedicated hosts and a private cash cage for players who can bet up to $45,000 a hand ($5,000 a square, with each player allowed to play up to nine squares a hand.)

The casino also has rooms for higher-stakes blackjack and slots players.

The new facility will replace a smaller casino that operated for the past nine years in a parkade across the street. Despite its smaller size and lack of amenities, that casino still generated the third-highest casino revenue in B.C. -- $176.7 million in 2006-07, behind only the River Rock and Boulevard casinos.

Gadhia expects the Grand Villa to generate substantially higher annual revenues.

"With so many new amenities here, this will be much more appealing to a broader population base and that's where the additional revenue will come from," he said.

He said the project's new Delta hotel and 12,000-square-foot conference centre have already generated tremendous interest from potential clients, even though it doesn't open until next spring. Gadhia said businesses in the area -- like Electronic Arts, Kodak and Yellow Pages -- need a first-rate hotel and bookings have been taken well into 2010.

He said discussions are currently taking place with the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee and expects a "substantial number" of the hotel's rooms will be set aside for use during the 2010 Olympics.

bconstantineau@vancouversun.com

GRAND VILLA

BURNABY'S NEW CASINO:

- Part of a $180-million reconstruction project.

- Incudes 100,000-square-foot casino with 50 gambling tables and more than 1,000 slot machines.

- Has a dedicated baccarat room where players can bet up to $45,000 a hand.

- Includes 135,000 square feet of underground parking on two levels.

ONLINE: Comment on this story at vancouversun.com/business

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20081031/46661-17321.jpg
Interior of the new Grand Villa Casino near Highway 1 and Willingdon in Burnaby,...
Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20081031/46661-17322.jpg
...with a view of the penny slot machines in the general gambling area.
Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=dd051e13-b519-45e2-90ae-ee3b3c8e5b83

[SpongeG]

Casino is hometown man's pride and joy

Company spares almost no expense in $180 million high-end gaming and hotel project
Alfie Lau, Langley Advance
Published: Saturday, November 01, 2008
Dave Gadhia is the first person to admit that the Grand Villa Casino is his baby.

The longtime Burnaby resident and chief executive officer of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment wanted his company's latest showcase casino to be something he would be proud to show to his friends, colleagues and old acquaintances.

The casino, on the site of the former Sheraton Hotel, will open to the public at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

"We always try to make our properties the best, but this is my hometown community," said Gadhia. "I wanted the place to be even more special because this is where I call home."

The Burnaby NOW took a recent preview tour of the casino just off Highway 1, and it appears Gadhia and staff have succeeded in every possible way.

The entire facility wouldn't feel out of place on the Las Vegas Strip, and Gateway has spared no expense in making sure that the best technology and most up-to-date games are on offer.

When Gadhia sat down with the NOW to talk about one of his proudest achievements, he couldn't contain his excitement.

"I've lived in Burnaby since I was 10 years old, and I'm extremely proud of my roots," said the chartered accountant, who has been with Gateway for 16 years. "I take an enormous sense of pride in this iconic property because I wanted to restore it to its former glory."

The property, which once featured a hotel, known at various times as the Sheraton, Villa or Radisson Hotel, had fallen into disrepair. But after Gateway became involved, Gadhia wanted to do everything he could to make sure it was a showcase casino, not just for Burnaby, but the entire Lower Mainland.

"Our research showed that we needed to have a fully integrated property," said Gadhia. "That meant having a great gaming facility, great amenities such as restaurants and lounges, and a great hotel partner like Delta, who I believe operate the best premium business hotels in Canada."

The hotel is still under construction, but walk through the casino and you'll be amazed at how wide the walkways are and how each area has a distinctive feel to it.

For example, the Cypress room features high-stakes mini baccarat, a private cash cage and a separate lounge area and bar.

Walk over to the Lions Room and, while the area is raised from the regular floor level, people walking by can still see inside.

Even the slot machines are a wonder to behold, as you can play everything from a penny slot all the way up to the $20 slot machines - yes, that's $20 per pull or button push.

And while smokers seem to have no place to light up any more, the Grand Villa features an outdoor smoking patio that offers stunning views of the North Shore mountains.

It's no coincidence that the Grand Villa is so inclusive.

"We wanted to bring a level of sophistication, a high-quality product with high-quality service to this area," said Gadhia. "I want everybody who comes here to feel the grandeur, elegance and quality of what we're trying to create."

Gateway spared no expense on the interior, but they also did more than just paint the exterior.

"We're right on (Highway 1), so a lot of people will see the outside," said Lui Garcea, Gateway's manager of marketing and promotions. "We wanted to have big open windows for people to see out and, for people driving by, to get a taste of what we were doing in here."

In addition, the old balcony railings have been fully refinished, on Gadhia's insistence.

"We wanted to go the extra step, and something like the balcony railings, we wanted to do it right."

Gadhia hesitates slightly when asked what he thinks of the current global economic crisis and what that means for the gaming industry.

"In good times and bad times, people still set aside dollars for entertainment," he said. "In good times, people come to a casino to celebrate. In not-so-good times, people need an escape. ... I'm confident that, with the variety of options and amenities here, we will have something for every type of customer."

Gadhia by law cannot gamble in any B.C. casino because of his position. He admits to playing craps on his annual trip to Las Vegas and said he loves spending time in the Centro Bar and the EBO restaurant because there is such a relaxed feel there.

And because Gadhia travelled the world to see what features he wanted to incorporate into the Grand Villa, people only need look at the ceiling that changes colour to see something truly unique.

He got the idea from a European football stadium that featured translucent cloth wrapped on the outside. Using LED lights, the cloth changes colour depending on what lights are used.

At the Grand Villa, that same technology is in place as one minute the ceiling is a brilliant tinge of red and the next it becomes a light shade of blue.

"It took us longer than we expected to open," Gadhia admitted, "but we used that time to refine everything we wanted. We used our time to make sure that everything was top quality and unique. ... We believe we have something to offer everybody, and we're inviting the people of Burnaby to come and experience sophistication and grandeur in their own backyard."

The Grand Villa Casino is located at 4331 Dominion St. A private VIP party, highlighted by a speech from Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, will precede the public opening on Nov. 5. The public can start gambling at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, with the old casino across the street closing for good at 3 a.m. on Nov. 6.

http://www.canada.com/burnabynow/news/story.html?id=b43caa92-026a-4f36-99a9-ef2b21f3dd45&p=1

[SpongeG]

i went on wednesday - the traffic was nuts and stupid - people were not knowing what to do so i slipped into the brand new parkade and found 100's of parking spots meanwhile people were parking at BCIT and walking over or driving around the businesses in the area sneaking a spot

bad direction on part of the company directing the traffic - they were useless really they just stood there pointing ahead not directing anyone anywhere

anyway - inside was a zoo - not too bad kinda nice - has a starbucks inside the main lobby

[Metro-One]

:previous: I was there too on Wednesday night. My first time gambling in a month. It is a really nice casino, but it was sooooo busy that it wasn't fun, long waits for lines and no freedom to leave a machine when desired because it would take 30 minutes to find another. I love the palm trees lining the streets surrounding it and i love the big casino sign with the purple light backdrop on the hotel tower.

[SpongeG]

yeah they have a done a nice job with it

the waterfall feature thing down the middle is cool

[Metro-One]

:previous: And they have a fast food chinese restaurant there, that made me so happy, if there is anything that makes gambling better, it is eating unhealthy food while you do it. The waterfall was really nice and the circular bar in the middle of the floor is another nice touch. I use to think that the Boulevard Casino was really nice but this new one blows it away. One thing they have to do to the River Rock is redesign the gaming floor, follow this new casino's style.

[SpongeG]

yah - that little lounge up on the second floor is pretty cool too - all white and swank with plasma TV's all over

too bad most of the slot players are toothy old ladies - lol

the hotel looks like it will be nice when it opens next year too - doesn't seem like the show lounge will take away any of the bigger acts that hit the other two casinos though