Surrey, No Slots Allowed

The bingo versus slots debate is making headlines once again. This time, our story focuses in Canada. The town of Surrey, British Colombia and all its surrounding towns are up in arms over what the residents are calling the covert invasion of slot machines. In order to alleviate and remedy the lack of revenue from their bingo halls, the B.C. Lotteries Corporation has submitted to various cities their plan to include new slot machines in their facilities. The residents of the town, who have already given in and approved bingo, are thoroughly against Vegas style slots, and resent the fact that the gaming company is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

Residents understand that the region could soon see a rapid increase in gambling, due to the fact that a few cities are actually approving the lottery company’s proposals to add slot machines. Many see through the ploy, citing that calling a casino a “community gaming center” does not change the fact that it is still a casino.

This is the latest story in an ongoing battle in cities everywhere between those to welcome slots and those who oppose them. Slot supporters argue that the machines bring in added revenue to their cities, allowing them to build new facilities, fund school programs, and keep taxes low. Others maintain that casinos encourage questionable behavior and set a negative example for neighborhood youth. Moreover, once slots are approved, the fight always goes on to include where the casino is permitted to operate, because most parents don’t want them within a certain radius of schools, parks or even churches.

Back to July 2008 Archive.