The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Scott Smith, minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, announced yesterday that hotel and lounge operators throughout the province will have the option of operating VLTs on Sundays, effective Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. "In recent months, many hotels and lounges throughout the province have raised concerns with rising insurance costs, well below average tourism and business travel, the impact of the BSE crisis and the impending provincewide smoking ban," said Smith. "The option of operating VLTs on Sundays will provide a much needed economic opportunity for hotel owners in rural Manitoba." See 'Revenues' P.# Con't from P.# Smith noted that recent financial figures on VLT revenues suggest a decline of approximately $7 million as a result of smoking bans in Brandon and Winnipeg. With a provincewide smoking ban expected to be introduced in October 2004, concerns have been raised regarding the economic impact on many hotels and lounges. "Hotels in Winnipeg and Brandon have already been negatively impacted by the smoking bans in both communities," said Jim Baker, president and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association. "Our members have expressed a concern that the provincewide smoking ban will result in significant losses. We are pleased that the government has recognized these concerns and has moved to support the industry by providing this option." Smith noted that the change would provide consistency with existing liquor laws that allow hotel and lounge owners the choice of opening on Sundays. In addition, the change would also provide a greater degree of consistency since Assiniboia Downs, the Winnipeg casinos and the Aseneskak Casino in the Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas are permitted to operate VLTs on Sundays. "VLTs were first introduced in our province in 1991 to boost the rural economy and offer rural hotels and lounges a much needed source of revenue," said Smith. "Today, rural Manitoba is again facing another challenge as a result of the BSE crisis. Allowing the Sunday operation of VLTs will provide an important economic opportunity for hotels and lounges in our province."
