Canadian Gaming Ferries on the Move
Nova Scotia will soon be launching its ferry that will service the Yarmouth to Portland route. The ferry that will leave from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia will offer a casino room, three bars, three restaurants, a duty-free shop and a fitness centre. British Columbia has plans to offer gaming on its ferries on a much smaller scale. Along with a number of cuts and other changes, the BC Ferries have plans to test slot machines on some of the main ferry routes.
Nova Star Cruises to Operate Nova Scotia Ferry
The president of Nova Star Cruises, Mark Amundsen, announced the new ferry at a news conference. He explained that the ferry service would be in operation from May 1st until November 2nd. The last time that there was a ship linking Maine and Nova Scotia was in 2009. This new overnight ferry will take between nine and ten hours to travel between Nova Scotia and Maine.
The Nova Star will be able to hold 1,215 passengers, and up to 336 cars, or a combination of cars and other vehicles. At this time, there are going to be 163 sleeping cabins. Of the three restaurants that will each seat between 100 and 210 guests, one will be a pub-style restaurant, one a buffet restaurant, and the other will offer travelers a fine dining choice. The ferry will also have a conference room, and a theatre, as well as an area for children to play. The casino gaming room is expected to be popular amongst travelers, and it will cover an area of 4,300 square feet. Apart from enjoying some gaming, shopping, and more, travelers can also enjoy various spa treatments on the overnight ferry.
Slot Machines on BC Ferries
A pilot project has already begun in which slot machines on British Columbia ferries are being tested. Slots may be added to the main routes, and the pilot programme has been started between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen. The project is a joint venture between BC Ferries and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
The transportation minister, Todd Stone, said: "The government of B.C. is also considering the introduction of a pilot project to assess the viability of gaming, and is seeking feedback on introducing gaming as a permanent revenue-generating programme on major routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland."
It will certainly be interesting to watch the developments of these two projects with Canadian gaming ferries on the move!
