B.C. Lottery Corporation is today celebrating 30 years of providing entertainment for millions of British Columbians that has generated billions in funding for government programs and community projects while creating family-supporting jobs throughout the province.

BCLC began life April 1, 1985, with former premier Bill Bennett presiding over a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Crown Corporation’s brand new headquarters in Kamloops, which continues to serve as the Lottery Corporation’s head office.

The corporation started out as a lottery-only business with two weekly games and a mandate to generate extra funding for Expo ’86, what was then the biggest event B.C. had ever hosted.

Through the Government of British Columbia, $250 million of lottery revenue was earmarked for the staging of Expo ’86 and $20 million of lottery monies helped make the B.C. Pavilion a centrepiece for the event.

Today, BCLC operates 17 casinos, seven commercial bingo halls, 18 community gaming centres and nearly 3,800 retail locations. B.C.’s gaming industry provides approximately 37,000 direct and indirect jobs. In 2013-14, BCLC delivered $1.17 billion to the Province, money that supports a range of programs and services, including education and health care.

Gaming facilities also represent an important revenue stream for their host communities. Host local governments receive a 10% share of net gaming revenues from facilities in their community, an amount that came to $86.9 million in 2013-14.

As well, provincial gaming grants provide a substantial source of revenue for nearly 5,000 community organizations in the province. Last year, local groups operating in areas that include arts and culture, youth sports, supporting people with disabilities, public safety and parent advisory councils received $135 million in funding from the Province.

To kick off the 30-year celebration, BCLC will release a socio-economic assessment of its operations in Kamloops. The study details an estimated $1.1 billion in local economic impact since the headquarters opened in 1985. With a total of 443 employees, BCLC is the eighth-largest employer in Kamloops

For more information on how B.C. Lottery Corporation is supporting communities in British Columbia, visit: https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/revenue/index.htm

Quote:

Finance Minister Michael de Jong −

“We’re proud to see that over the past couple of decades, gaming has grown into a $2.1-billion industry that provides family-supporting jobs for British Columbians across the province, while helping fund health care, education and other priority programs.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2013, more than $1 billion generated by BCLC gambling activities went back into health care, education and community groups throughout B.C.
• It has been estimated that 75% of the adult population in B.C. participates in some form of gaming, including the purchase of lottery tickets.
• The past three decades have seen BCLC generate $18.6 billion for the provincial government - supporting government programs and services including education and health care.
• British Columbia has a lottery outlet for every 973 adults and generates the third-highest lottery revenue per capita in Canada.
• Host local governments have benefited from $418 million over the past five years. Last year, 31 local governments in B.C. received a total of $86.9 million.
• The total economic impact of the BCLC headquarters in Kamloops for 2013-14 was an estimated $47.3 million. For every two jobs created at BCLC, approximately one was created in the local economy.
• BCLC’s office employs a highly skilled, highly educated workforce with average salaries of $64,541, compared to the local average of $38,689.
• This year, the Province and BCLC are providing approximately $9.5 million for responsible gambling: $6 million for the Provincial Responsible and Problem Gambling Program and $3.5 million for BCLC’s responsible gambling initiatives.

Learn More:

Gaming Revenue: where the money goes: https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/revenue/index.htm

Responsible Gambling - support and services:
https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/responsible-gambling/index.htm

B.C. Lottery Corporation: https://www.bclc.com

Media Contacts:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821