Abbotsford-based Chances Casino gave back nearly $1.5 million of gambling revenue to various community programs and events in 2024. Since 2009, the City of Abbotsford has received more than $15 million from gambling.

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) reported that gambling brought in $1.5 billion in net income for the provincial B.C. government while overall generating $15.44 billion in Canada in 2023. The money was used towards funding education, community gaming grants, the Provincial Health Special Account, First Nations groups, and many other public programs and services.

Abbotsford-based Chances Casino contributed a total of $1.49 million to various local initiatives in 2024 to support local community events, including the Sumas First Nation Powwow, the Taste of Abby Fall Festival, and the Symphony in the Park. The casino donated $15,000 to the Neighbourhood Spirits Grants program, which helped fund small-scale projects throughout Abbotsford.

In addition to the donation by Chances Casino, Abbotsford received over half a million dollars from the province’s community gaming grants in 2024. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley got $225,000, the Abbotsford Hospice and Grief Support Society received $180,000, and the Abbotsford Youth Commission received $105,000. Since 2009, BCLC has shared more than $15 million in provincial gambling revenue with the City of Abbotsford.

Pat Davis, the president and CEO of BCLC, shares that the organization is committed to supporting community programs and ensuring that gambling revenues remain within the province.

Source: The Abbotsford News

At Polite Canada, we don’t encourage gambling, given its personal and societal risks. However, when revenue is responsibly reinvested into local initiatives, as seen in Abbotsford, we believe it’s fair to recognize the positive impact of that redistribution.