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Boomtown Casino (Fort McMurray, Alberta)

DESCRIPTION

The Boomtown casino is located in downtown Fort McMurray in the Peter Pond Shopping Mall. The site provides a 'front-street' location as well as ample parking and reportedly cost $800,000 to construct. It is owned by the publicly traded Gamehost Inc. (TSX: GH).

HISTORY

The casino in Fort McMurray began as a small temporary operation. It was bought by Winners Gaming in 1992 and two years later it opened at the MacKenzie Park Inn (now the Quality Hotel and Conference Centre). It was renamed and moved to its current premises in Peter Pond Shopping Mall in May, 2000.

OWNERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

In 2000, David Will and his son Darcy, both of Red Deer, were majority shareholders in Service Plus Hospitality Ltd., a public company that owned the Boomtown Casino, Great Northern Casino (Grande Prairie), as well as several hotels. Darcy Will started his gaming career by running bingo halls and temporary casinos in Red Deer. His first permanent casino, the Winner’s Circle, opened in Red Deer in 1993. It was sold in 1998 so that Will could concentrate on his family’s northern ventures.

By June 2003, Gamehost Income Fund (name change to Gamehost Inc. and conversion from a trust in January, 2011) had acquired the Boomtown Casino as well as other gaming and hotel facilities formerly owned by Service Plus Hospitality Ltd., Will Inns Ltd., Boomtown Casino Ltd. and 599754 AB Ltd.

As of February, 2011 Gamehost Inc. had interests in three Alberta casinos and a hotel. These operations include Boomtown Casino in Fort McMurray, Great Northern Casino and Service Plus Inns & Suites Hotel both located in Grand Prairie. Gamehost Inc. is also a joint venture partner (91%) in the Deerfoot Inn & Casino development in Calgary, Alberta.

RECENT EVENTS

An expansion which nearly doubled the facility size to 23,500-sq.-ft. was completed in March 2006. This increased the size of the poker room, the lounge and dance floor area, restaurant seating, added administrative areas, and allowed for an increase in gaming terminals.

COMPETITION

The City of Fort McMurray is a rapidly growing Northern Alberta city of approximately 76,000 (2010) -- not including a significant shadow population. There are no other casinos in this relatively isolated area. The Boomtown Casino benefits from high activity in the resource and construction sectors in Fort McMurray.

A 1997 plebiscite resulted in a decision to remove video lottery terminals from the city. The machines were not physically removed from the Municipality of Wood Buffalo (including Fort McMurray) until April 2003 due to court challenges.
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Gamehost Inc. (Formerly Gamehost Income Fund)

Gamehost Inc, Financial Reports

Boomtown Casino: About Us

Big players tend to keep a low profile: FROM GRIME TO GLITZ/ Alberta's gaming industry has matured, moving from the dingy little gambling dens of 30 years ago to today's glamour palaces. Edmonton Journal, Aug 27, 2000.  p. E8.

 Last Updated: 02/25/11 by Rhys Stevens