Casinos have long been viewed in British Columbia as the goose that provincial governments could always count on to lay badly needed golden eggs. These days, however, increasing public concern over the negative impact of casinos is forcing governments to take a closer look.

For the second time in slightly less than three years, the B.C. government has had its hopes for building major new casinos in affluent, trendy Lower Mainland neighborhoods soundly rejected by unexpectedly forceful public opposition.

The pushback first occurred in Vancouver’s high-profile False Creek area, next to B.C. Place, in April 2011. Last month, it happened again; this time in the neighbouring City of Surrey’s posh south section.

Being turned down once was bad enough for Victoria, but rolling back-to-back snake eyes in its quest to build more casinos was too much for some of the government’s key gambling advocates, who reacted badly, especially after Surrey.

No doubt, the frustration is real. With Premier Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberals’ final term budget set for Feb. 19 and the provincial election due May 14, the Liberals desperately need the job-creating and revenue-generating hype that would have surrounded any new casino.

Victoria faces a forecast deficit of $1.47 billion, so finding non-tax cash sources such as casinos is vital. Furthermore, polling consistently has the Liberals far behind the Opposition New Democrats and its leader, Adrian Dix.

But the explanation is simple. In both cases, Victoria saw the casino projects primarily in economic terms, while opponents also saw them in moral, social and neighbourhood terms. Smart local politicians, such as Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, figured this out quickly after merely listening to what their constituents were telling them.

In Vancouver, the $500-million casino was subjected to seven days of public hearings, and the opposition was extremely strong. “Enabling the largest casino in Western Canada in our downtown doesn’t fit with Vancouver’s global brand as the world’s most livable city,” Robertson said later, after local voters raised concerns such as the high social costs of problem gambling and its insidious bedfellow – money laundering by organized crime.

In Surrey, mounting opposition eventually turned the initially favourable tide against the $100-million casino, and it took the deciding vote by mayor Watts at 2 a.m. in the morning for Surrey council to reject the proposal by a 5-4 vote.

Unfortunately, the behaviour by Victoria and B.C. Lottery Commission (BCLC) proponents during that vote was simply boorish. According to media reports, for example, B.C. Gaming Minister Rich Coleman and BCLC president Michael Graydon could barely disguise their anger.

Both took shots at Watts for courageously following voter wishes, and it was later disclosed that Coleman had warned two Surrey councillors – before the vote – that if the casino was rejected Surrey would never be considered for another one.

Watts subsequently issued an open letter that said that Graydon’s comments, in particular, “show a complete disregard of the public process.”

That says it all.

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