Happy Birthday Casino Regina
This week saw one of Saskatchewan's top tourist destinations, Casino Regina, celebrate its fifteenth anniversary.
The casino, which is located in the century old Union Station, has seen over 27 million visitors pass through its gates since they first opened in 1996.
The success of the venture has been attributed to a unique partnership that was formed between the local aboriginal community and the Canadian province.
Speaking at the celebrations, the minster who oversees the Saskatchewan Gaming Corp, Kevin Cheveldayoff said: "Congratulations to Casino Regina and its employees for reaching this milestone, and for 15 years of generating quality employment opportunities, economic benefit and profit for Saskatchewan people in partnership with First Nations."
The casino grew out of a unique, pioneering agreement signed between the province and Saskatchewan's Indian Nations Chief in the early 1990's.
The casino is operated by the Gaming Corp, which expanded its casino operations with the opening of Casino Moose Jaw in 2002.
The funds from the casino are used to support a number of projects and initiatives in the province, and since its opening, nearly $400 million has been transferred to the support fund.
Original fears that a casino could generate higher rates of crime never materialized.
"In fact it turned out to be the opposite," said NDP Leader, Dwain Lingenfelter who negotiated the original deal with the aboriginal leaders. "I think it's helped stabilize that part of downtown Regina."
