New Calgary Racetrack and Casino Project Announced
Century Casinos Inc. has announced that it plans to construct a new race track and entertainment center just north of Calgary, Alberta in Canada.
The new project is particularly lucrative because it will be the only horse racing track in the area, incorporating a proposed 5.5 furlongs racetrack, as well as a Racing Entertainment Center.
According to press release issued by Century Casinos, the Racing Entertainment Center will including "a gaming floor proposing 625 gaming machines, a bar, a lounge, restaurant facilities, an o-track-betting area and an entertainment area."
The license to construct the new Calgary racetrack casino project is the only one available in a metropolitan area in Alberta, and pre-dates a three year moratorium on new casinos introduced by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) recently.
Alberta Casino Licenses Required
The new project in Calgary is subject to licensing from the AGLC, as well as development approvals. Relevant applications have already been submitted, and Century Casinos admits in its press release that "there is no assurance that the needed approvals will be obtained or as to the time of such approvals."
On a more positive note, the governing authority for horse racing in Alberta, Horse Racing Alberta, has already issued a license to Century Casinos after approving the project.
Once all the licenses and approvals have been given, Century Casinos believes that it could take up to 18 months to complete the racetrack and casino.
Ideal Location for Calgary Casino
The developers of the proposed project believe that the location of the racetrack and casino is ideal. It is planned to be located less than a mile north of the city limits of Calgary and 4.5 miles from the city's international airport.
The racetrack would be positioned exiting off the one of Western Canada's most heavily used highways and a main corridor between Calgary and Edmonton, the Queen Elizabeth II highway.
There is no existing casino in the northwest and north Calgary area, and Century Casinos believes that it will be able to attract visitors from all over the nearby cities, as well as nationally and internationally thanks to its close proximity to the international airport.
Century Casinos already operates gambling and hotel facilities in Edmonton, Alberta, in Calgary and in Colorado, US. It also operates casinos aboard twelve luxury cruise liners, and the parent company has multiple gambling interests in Europe and the Caribbean.
