Casino Regulations Level the Playing-Field
Changes in Nova Scotia's casino regulations will target out-of-province, high-end players and make the province's casinos more competitive, Finance Minister Don Downe announced today.
"We want to focus less on Nova Scotian players and more on the out-of-province, high-end player," said Mr. Downe. "These regulations give Nova Scotia the ability to compete on a level playing-field with other casinos in Ontario, Quebec and along the eastern seaboard of the United States."
The new regulations relate to credit, hours of operation, new table games and complimentary alcohol in a high-limit area. Competing casinos in all other jurisdictions in Eastern Canada and the eastern United States currently offer these amenities.
Out-of-province players will now be able to obtain credit from the casino operator. This will help attract international players who do not wish to travel with large sums of cash.
Complimentary alcohol will be permitted in the confines of a private high-limit room. Regulations permit complimentary alcohol in Ontario, Montreal, Hull, Foxwood and Atlantic City.
The casinos will be able to open eight additional hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays -- moving from 16-hour operations to 24-hour operations. The casinos currently operate 24 hours a day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. They remain closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day.
In addition, the regulations allow the casino operator to apply to the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority to approve new games of chance such as Caribbean stud poker and super pan 9, which are currently permitted in other Canadian jurisdictions.
"We are passing these regulations because they make good business sense," said Mr. Downe. "The Nova Scotia Gaming Corp. lobbied hard for these changes and convinced us it was the right business decision. If we're going to be in this business, we should do it in a way that makes good business sense."
These regulatory changes are supported by the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia, the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, and some local restaurateurs. The regulations should increase business and tourism activity in the downtown cores of Halifax and Sydney, as well as revenues to the province.
The 1996 Nova Scotia Visitor Exit Survey showed that casino patrons tend to stay in the province three days longer than other visitors and spend more money on entertainment and other items.
Statistics reported by the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority show that 30 per cent of casino patrons dine out at a restaurant, 11 per cent had been to a bar or lounge, and six per cent go shopping.
The regulations are effective immediately, although there is a 30-day delay on the extension of hours of operation to give the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority fair notice for surveillance and other activities.
These changes apply to casinos in both Sydney and Halifax.