River Rock Casino Resort

Casino infobox
casino=River Rock Casino Resort
theme= West Coast rainforest
address=8811 River Road
Richmond, BC V6X 3P8

---

rooms=220
date_opened= 25 June 2004
space_gaming=70,000 ft² (6503 m²)
attractions= River Rock Show Theatre
shows= None
restaurants= Runway 26 Buffet, Fireside Lounge
owner=Great Canadian Gaming
casino_type=Land-Based
renovations=None
names_pre= None
website= [http://www.riverrock.com/ http://www.riverrock.com/]

River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia is the largest casino in the province of British Columbia. [ [http://www.firstnationsdrum.com/Spring2005/BizGolf.htm BUSINESS - Court Suspends Golf Course Sale ] ] 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. [ [http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?articleID=2350277&pageID=bc_archive News Error | myTELUS ] ]

History

The casino was built on the site of the former Bridgepoint Market in Richmond. It first opened to the public on 25 June 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. [ [http://www.richmond-news.com/issues05/075105/news/075105nn4.html canada.com ] ]

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. [ [http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428327912&rem=34161&red=80132723aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm CKNW News Talk 980 - CKNWAM ] ] [ [http://www.vancourier.com/issues05/101105/news/101105nn9.html canada.com ] ]

Transportation

Bus service, operated by TransLink, is provided via bus routes within walking distance of the casino. The bus rapid transit 98 B-Line's "Sea Island Way" stop is also close to 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.

In 2009, the casino will be served by the rapid transit Canada Line; the line's Bridgeport Station will be located across from the casino.

The casino also plans to build a 1,200 parking space complex for casino patrons and for park-and-ride transit use. [citeweb|url=http://www.richmond-news.com/issues07/052107/news/052107nn1.html|title=Richmond News - Canada Line drives massive development - May 08, 2007 ] 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 uses will be charged $2 to use the facility. [citeweb|url=http://www.richmond-news.com/issues06/124206/news/124206nn3.html|title=Richmond News - Casino gets 'sweet deal' from TransLink - December 2006]

River Rock Casino and the film industry

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. [cite news
title = Laptops thrown by actress hit seniors: police
publisher = CBC
date = 9 November 2006
url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/11/09/bc-richards.html
accessdate = 2006-11-11 ] [cite news
title = No charges against actress Richards, RCMP say
publisher = CBC
date = 10 November 2006
url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/11/10/bc-denise-richards.html
accessdate = 2006-11-11 ]

The casino was also prominently featured in the "Psych" episode entitled "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Piece."

Loan sharking controversy

As the biggest casino in the province, River Rock has attracted criminal activity to the area. 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. [cite news
title = Crime at River Rock
publisher = CKNW
date = 16 August 2006
url = http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428763912&rem=45372&red=80176323aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm | accessdate = 2006-11-11 ] [cite news
last = Skelton
first = Chad
title = Richmond sees rash of casino-related crime
publisher = The Vancouver Sun
date = 16 August 2006
url = http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1f6b1257-fabf-49aa-aa5d-ee4677bfdd40&k=92090
accessdate = 2006-11-11 ] 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. [cite news
last = Bennett
first = Nelson
title = Clapham cracks down on loan sharks
publisher = Richmond News
date = 18 August 2006
url = http://www.richmond-news.com/issues06/083206/news/083206nn2.html
accessdate = 2006-11-11 ] 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. [cite news
last = Edmonds
first = Eve
title = Murder victim last seen at casino
publisher = Richmond News
date = 29 September 2006
url = http://www.richmond-news.com/issues06/095206/news/095206nn2.html
accessdate = 2006-11-11 ]

ee also

*List of casinos

References

External links

* [http://www.greatcanadiancasinos.com/riverrock River Rock Casino Resort]