| River Rock Casino Resort | |
|---|---|
| Address | 8811 River Road Richmond, BC V6X 3P8 |
| Opening date | June 25, 2004 |
| Theme | West Coast rainforest |
| No. of rooms | 220 |
| Total gaming space | 70,000 sq ft (6,500 m2) |
| Permanent shows | None |
| Signature attractions | River Rock Show Theatre |
| Casino type | Land-Based |
| Owner | Great Canadian Gaming |
| Previous names | None |
| Years renovated | 2009 |
| Website | http://www.riverrock.com/ |
River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia is the largest casino in the province of British Columbia.[1] The casino is owned by Great Canadian Gaming. In addition to its 222 rooms, lodging space is available at the 144-berth marina.
The casino has 10,000 visitors per day on average and generated an annual revenue of $244 million as of August 2006.[2]
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The casino was built on the site of the former Bridgepoint Market in Richmond. It first opened to the public on June 25, 2004.
Several variances were needed from the City of Richmond to allow it to open with service that customers expect. This included a modification of its liquor license and operating license to allow liquor to be consumed in the casino's theatre.[3]
It hosted the British Columbia Poker Championships in November 2005, 2006 and 2007. The premier event of the Johnny Chan Poker Championship was also held in 2007.
The 2006 Gemini Awards were presented at the River Rock Casino Resort, marking the ceremony's West Coast debut; the event is normally held in Toronto.[4] [5]
The casino is served by Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line SkyTrain, located across from the casino.
Bus service, operated by TransLink, is provided via bus routes within walking distance of the casino.
The casino is located about five minutes from Vancouver International Airport, on Richmond's Sea Island. It is also near Highway 99, the main highway connecting Vancouver to the southern suburbs.
The casino also plans to build a 1,200 parking space complex for casino patrons and for park-and-ride transit use.[6] The 1,200 stall parkade will cost $33 million to build. TransLink (the Canada Line Operator) will give the Great Canadian Casino Corporation land worth $9.5 million, and $4.5 million in cash in return for building the park-and-ride facility. Transit users will be charged $2.50 to use the facility.[7]
Because the Vancouver area has a big film industry, River Rock has played host to various productions looking for casino filming locations. While this is generally well received, there have been some unfortunate incidents. On 8 November 2006, three photographers made their way onto a closed section of the hotel's balcony intending to photograph actress Denise Richards during filming of the movie Blonde and Blonder. In an ensuing argument, she allegedly threw a laptop computer belonging to one photographer off the balcony, striking the arm of an elderly lady in a wheelchair. [8] [9]
The casino was also prominently featured in the Psych episode entitled "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Piece."
A report released by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation showed that out of 56 incidents of a casino patron in British Columbia being barred from gambling for suspected loan sharking activity, 34 of those incidents took place at River Rock.[10][11] Controversy within Richmond was further stirred when the RCMP admitted it could do little to stop loan sharking unless a victim came forward, yet it was the suspected motive for a variety of kidnappings, extortions, threats and violence.[12] The most prominent case occurred when Rong Lilly Li, a suspected loan shark, disappeared after last being seen getting into a van outside the casino on 26 May 2006. Her body was finally recovered on the weekend of 9-10 September 2006.[13]