Operator News
Canada – Great Canadian Gaming opens Elements casino
By Phil - 21 December 2015
The 40-year-old Fraser Down Racetrack casino has opened to the public as Elements Casino after an $11m upgrade by its owners Great Canadian Gaming.
General Manager Michael Kim said: “New table games, new slots and new dining facilities have all parlayed into an entertainment package second to none in the marketplace. The residents of the City of Surrey have been waiting for a property like this one.”
Visually, the multi-million dollar redevelopment program under the ownership of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation begins with new signage that includes spectacular, colour-changing lighting as part of the exterior. Once inside, a gleaming Atrium provides a sense of arrival with fresh carpeting, a conveniently situated Guest Services area and 150 slots beyond the main doors.
The new Molson Canadian Lounge seats 60 and can best be described as a modern ‘mini pub’ where beer and burgers are the order of the day and night with major sporting events popping up on television monitors throughout the area. On the second level is Escape – an imposing showroom that can accommodate 300 guests for live entertainment. New Year’s Eve reservations are now being accepted for an appearance by the popular hard-driving local party band All About Jack.
Adjacent to Escape is a short stairway that leads to Homestretch, a brightly lit dining area that seats up to 600 horse racing fans who can dine while overlooking the track. It’s also the new home to the B.C. Harness Racing Hall of Fame that features pictures and trophies of the province’s racing legends. Outside the entrance to Homestretch, guests have the opportunity to play 100 slots in a unique seating design that allows them to watch live racing at the same time.
Also on the second level is a vast gaming area that consists of 50% slots and 50% tables including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker and a VIP room. Nearby is another eatery simply called Foodies, a funky grab-and-go area that offers complimentary self-serve coffee and soft drinks.
The man behind all of the attractive food outlets at Elements Casino is Executive Chef Raymond Mah, a creative master who says: “Food is my passion; family is my inspiration. And what better way to bring friends and family together than by offering enjoyable dining! I have 25 culinary colleagues on our Elements team and we strive together to come up with new creations.”
The hand-made sliders, flatbread, pork gyoza and cracked dry ribs on the appies menu are, in a word, amazing. Mah is a talented young Vancouver chef whose background includes developing his trade at Seasons in the Park, Westwood Plateau and the Sutton Place Hotel.
Gaming improvements, in addition to engineered machine placement and an overall feng shui design element, include 12 more gaming tables including Squeeze Baccarat in a private area, Pai Gow, Double Deck Blackjack and a second Roulette wheel in addition to the existing Four Card Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables.
In other news, Great Canadian Gaming is to introuce the new brand of Shorelines Casinos for the gaming properties at Thousand Islands, Kawartha Downs, and potentially, in the City of Belleville.
As of early 2016, and subject to the successful transition of the properties from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to the Partnership, Thousand Islands Casino and OLG Slots at Kawartha Downs will be renamed as Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands and Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs.
The Shorelines brand has been selected as it captures each of the market’s historical connectivity to the community and geographical area. In addition, the new brand will serve as a key identifier in the Eastern Ontario region that will be synonymous for outstanding customer service, coupled with great gaming options, fantastic restaurants and top-tier entertainment.
“We have done extensive research to ensure that the chosen brand resonates with the local marketplace, and we’re eager to start using it. But in the meantime, our primary focus continues to be on finalizing the transition of the operations to the Partnership from OLG,” said Andy LaCroix, Interim Executive Director, Ontario Operations.
The Partnership will continue to develop preliminary plans for a gaming property in the preferred community of Belleville, and if successful, the property will be named Shorelines Casino Belleville.
