Victoria/Langley/Maple Ridge/Chilliwack – The Government of British Columbia is supporting a new operational service agreement between the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and its casino services providers.
Casinos in the Valley include Chances in Chilliwack, Chances in Maple Ridge and Cascades in Langley.
The new agreement will strengthen BCLC’s oversight in the areas of compliance and security, including escalating mechanisms and progressive discipline measures.
Several service providers in B.C. casinos and community gaming centres are approaching the expiry date on their contracts with BCLC. By updating the operational services agreement, BCLC is taking the opportunity to achieve better strategic alignment with its service providers, strengthen accountability, reduce risk and improve investment in facilities.
The new agreements will also allow BCLC to respond quickly and efficiently to findings from the independent review of B.C.’s anti-money laundering policies and practices in the gambling industry currently underway. The review is being conducted by lawyer Peter German, who will make recommendations to government as they are identified so that any necessary changes can be implemented immediately.
BCLC sets standards that service providers must follow. The new agreement includes changes that will strengthen BCLC’s capacity to enforce its policies and hold service providers accountable for investment commitments.
Service providers will have the opportunity to either transition to the new agreement in the coming months or to continue operating under the former agreement until their current individual contract expires.
- The Gaming Control Act gives BCLC responsibility for the conduct and management of gambling in British Columbia.
- The Attorney General is responsible for gaming policy, enforcement and responsible gambling strategy, as well as oversight of the BC Lottery Corporation.
- BCLC will offer the new service agreement to current service providers in the coming months.
- Peter German is a former deputy commissioner of both the RCMP and Correctional Service Canada, and is the author of Canada’s leading anti-money-laundering law textbook.
- The independent review of money laundering policies and practices in the gambling industry began in late September 2017, and will be completed by the end of March 2018.
Link to BCLC News Release: http://corporate.bclc.com/media-centre/bclc-news/news-search/news-management/new-casino-operational-services-agreement-strengthens-accountability-and-investment.html
