Casino Nanaimo might be best known as a fun destination that offers guests gaming, dining and live entertainment, but they have also established themselves as an integral part of the local community. Through their financial contributions, charitable support and employee development programs, they provide the City of Nanaimo with so much more than just an evening out.
Casino Nanaimo generates millions in economic value for the City of Nanaimo. Every year, a significant portion of gross gaming revenue from Casino Nanaimo is retained by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) on behalf of the provincial government to support programs like healthcare, education and social services. The City of Nanaimo also receives a share of the revenue generated at the gaming facility. Last year, the City received $2.9 million from Casino Nanaimo and has received over $50.7 million since the Casino opened in 1998.
Community organizations also benefit from gaming through the provincial Community Gaming Grant program. Administered by the provincial government, this program distributes funds from gaming revenues to not-for-profit organizations. In 2018, 126 Nanaimo non-profit organizations benefited from $3.6 million in Community Gaming Grants.
More than just providing economic support, Casino Nanaimo and its team members make every effort to making meaningful contributions to the community through the company’s PROUD program. PROUD unifies Casino Nanaimo’s community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts and encourages team members to get behind a cause that is important to them and use their position to make a difference in the community.
Under the PROUD program, Casino Nanaimo team members are encouraged to make an impact on as many charities, non-profit groups and community organizations as possible. Whether it is making a donation, providing sponsorship, or engaging in various volunteer opportunities, team members are always on the lookout for new ways to increase their contributions to the community. In 2018, Casino Nanaimo supported 178 charitable organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island, Loaves and Fishes Food Bank, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society, the John Howard Nanaimo Society and more.
Finally, Casino Nanaimo makes every effort to support the local community by hiring team members that live in Nanaimo. Currently, Casino Nanaimo employees 151 team members. These team members fill 37 different job positions, speak 25 different languages, and 86 percent live in Nanaimo. Casino Nanaimo also prioritizes local suppliers, and in 2018, they spent $728,000 with 74 Nanaimo based vendors.
Casino Nanaimo is owned by Great Canadian Gaming, which operates 25 gaming properties across Canada. To learn more about Casino Nanaimo or apply to become a community partner, visit their website www.CasinoNanaimo.com.
