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 10910 – 107A Avenue
Grande Prairie, AB
T8V 7B2
(780) 539-4454
WEBSITE: http://www.greatnortherncasino.net/
SIZE: 30,864-square-feet*
TABLE GAMES: 15*
SLOT MACHINES: 392*
POKER ROOM: YES (3 tables)
AMENITIES: A restaurant and a 145-seat showroom and lounge featuring live entertainment.
* Gamehost Income Fund web site, February 2011.
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 DESCRIPTION
Great Northern Casino is owned by the publicly traded Gamehost Inc. (TSX: GH) and located in the City of Grande Prairie next to the Service Plus Inns & Suites Hotel. It has been constructed in the style of an old western town. The casi
no is a destination entertainment facility for the northern areas of Alberta and British Columbia.
HISTORY
Great Northern Casino opened in June 1999 after Red-Deer based Service Plus Hospitality Ltd. bought the Golden Chance Casino from three local partners.
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 Great Northern Casino, Boomtown Casino (Fort McMurray), 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.
Gamehost Income Fund (name change to Gamehost Inc. and conversion from a trust in January, 2011) was formed as an income trust in April, 2003 and by June 2003, it had acquired the Great Northern 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
The Great Northern was expanded to its present size in July of 2003 (the cost of the expansion totaled $1.86-million). This expansion provided a piano bar to complement the existing lounge, additional meeting / banquet areas, and additional slot machines. At the time the expansion was opened, the numbers of slot machines were increased to the maximum allowable for a minor casino.
CASINO & RACINO COMPETITION
There are presently no other casinos in the Grande Prairie. The Evergreen Park Racing Entertainment Centre (racino) also operates slot machines in the city.
The trade area population of the Grande Prairie region is over 200,000 people and the City of Grande Prairie itself has a population of approximately 45,000 (2005).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Gamehost Inc. (Formerly Gamehost Income Fund)
Gamehost Inc. Financial Reports
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.
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