Bring poker to bingo halls, owner urges
Proposal would add 60 jobs and create $2M in cash for charities
Doug Williamson
Windsor Star
August 31, 2004
A Windsor businessman says his proposal to introduce small-stakes U.S.-style "poker parlours" in Ontario will boost charity revenues, add jobs and provide an alternative to illegal basement card games.
Mike Duval, owner of Classic Bingo on Dougall Avenue, said city charity revenues would receive up to $2 million per year from the poker games, which he said could be added to the provincial gaming industry by combining them with current bingo operations.
"At least this'll give them another avenue for gambling," Duval said of people who take part in illegal card games which he said go on all over Windsor.
"I know of the illegal games there are -- there will always be a game in somebody's basement," he acknowledged.
He said he would divert a portion of revenues to agencies helping problem gamblers.
Poker gambling is legal only in casinos. Duval said the province, through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, could include his poker room concept in the section regulating bingos. Charities receive 60 per cent of bingo revenues and could get a similar portion of the "rake" from card games, he said.
Duval said he could create 60 jobs and bring in at least $2 million in revenues to charities through the parlours, which in his facility would involve 15 to 20 tables in a 10,000-square foot area. Table stakes would range from $1 and $2 bets to $5 and $10 bets, depending on the game, he said.
Insisting he is not trying to compete with Casino Windsor, Duval said the typical gambler he is reaching for has $100 to bet, likes to play slot machines or put a few dollars on a horse race, but above all loves poker.
"They could play all day on that $100," he said. "As opposed to a casino and dropping hundreds of dollars."
Duval also said the poker room concept lends itself to smokers, who could simply be dealt out of a game for a few hands and go outside for a cigarette break -- assuming the government institutes a provincewide smoking ban as promised in the last election.
But Duval's idea is getting a cool reception from the City of Windsor administration, which is recommending council not take a stand on the proposal.
Duval had hoped council would endorse his concept to give him ammunition when approaching provincial officials.
"It is unclear where the gaming market in the City of Windsor is going," says an administration report to be considered by council next week. It notes the casino could introduce a similar concept without any change in regulation.
"It is unclear whether or not this type of scheme would be successful in a marketplace where every type of gambling is available," the city report says, adding there is talk of an expansion to Casino Windsor which "could include the introduction of poker rooms."
AGCO spokesman Ab Campion said the regulatory body would examine any proposal made by Duval, who has spoken to its representatives but made no formal submission. Campion also noted the province is undertaking a gaming market study which could examine poker rooms.
Duval said if Windsor council does not support his idea, he'll knock on the next door.
"If the city doesn't then I'm going to another municipality. Tecumseh would be my next place of operation.
Proposal would add 60 jobs and create $2M in cash for charities
Doug Williamson
Windsor Star
August 31, 2004
A Windsor businessman says his proposal to introduce small-stakes U.S.-style "poker parlours" in Ontario will boost charity revenues, add jobs and provide an alternative to illegal basement card games.
Mike Duval, owner of Classic Bingo on Dougall Avenue, said city charity revenues would receive up to $2 million per year from the poker games, which he said could be added to the provincial gaming industry by combining them with current bingo operations.
"At least this'll give them another avenue for gambling," Duval said of people who take part in illegal card games which he said go on all over Windsor.
"I know of the illegal games there are -- there will always be a game in somebody's basement," he acknowledged.
He said he would divert a portion of revenues to agencies helping problem gamblers.
Poker gambling is legal only in casinos. Duval said the province, through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, could include his poker room concept in the section regulating bingos. Charities receive 60 per cent of bingo revenues and could get a similar portion of the "rake" from card games, he said.
Duval said he could create 60 jobs and bring in at least $2 million in revenues to charities through the parlours, which in his facility would involve 15 to 20 tables in a 10,000-square foot area. Table stakes would range from $1 and $2 bets to $5 and $10 bets, depending on the game, he said.
Insisting he is not trying to compete with Casino Windsor, Duval said the typical gambler he is reaching for has $100 to bet, likes to play slot machines or put a few dollars on a horse race, but above all loves poker.
"They could play all day on that $100," he said. "As opposed to a casino and dropping hundreds of dollars."
Duval also said the poker room concept lends itself to smokers, who could simply be dealt out of a game for a few hands and go outside for a cigarette break -- assuming the government institutes a provincewide smoking ban as promised in the last election.
But Duval's idea is getting a cool reception from the City of Windsor administration, which is recommending council not take a stand on the proposal.
Duval had hoped council would endorse his concept to give him ammunition when approaching provincial officials.
"It is unclear where the gaming market in the City of Windsor is going," says an administration report to be considered by council next week. It notes the casino could introduce a similar concept without any change in regulation.
"It is unclear whether or not this type of scheme would be successful in a marketplace where every type of gambling is available," the city report says, adding there is talk of an expansion to Casino Windsor which "could include the introduction of poker rooms."
AGCO spokesman Ab Campion said the regulatory body would examine any proposal made by Duval, who has spoken to its representatives but made no formal submission. Campion also noted the province is undertaking a gaming market study which could examine poker rooms.
Duval said if Windsor council does not support his idea, he'll knock on the next door.
"If the city doesn't then I'm going to another municipality. Tecumseh would be my next place of operation.
