facilityprofile CHANCES KELOWNA Escape into a world of gaming entertainment BY KRISTINE JONES Known for its exquisite vineyards, gorgeous summers and award-winning golf courses, Kelowna is the largest city located along Lake Okanagan in British Columbia. With over 115,000 people that call Kelowna home, Chances is also the home gaming centre for many locals and their out-of-town friends and family. 26 | Summer 2014 LOCATED IN CENTRAL KELOWNA, Chances is a 42,000-square-foot Community Gaming Centre with the latest slot machine themes, electronic bingo and table games, as well as a full-service restaurant. Longshots Lounge is on the upper level of Chances, along with a cozy teletheatre for horseracing fans to relax in while they wager on live races. What was once a stereotypical lone bingo operation is now a modern g a m i n g f a c i l it y w it h o v e r 15 0 employees and a tight group of eight department managers – a team that says it has been fortunate to learn alongside Chances owner, Stan Walt. facility. Over time, not only did the name Chances begin to resonate with people, but the 50 machines quickly turned into 150 which have since turned into 270 slots and growing. Today you can often catch Gaming Manager Dale Conway out on the floor being the hands-on eyes and ears for players’ needs. STEADY EXPANSION Over the years, some staff have cheekily teased that they should change the name from Chances to Changes because they seem to always be ripping down walls and reviewing floor plans. The steady growth of the slot floor has also helped to build a strong following in the full-service restaurant, Longshots Lounge. That, too, is known for its unpredicted growth. Just a couple of years after opening Chances, to successfully offer the menu players desired, the company renovated the upstairs to create a comfortable restaurant that even attracts guests for social reasons, with no intention to gamble. Chef Rene Wunderlin has spent the last eight years whipping up delicious menu items and catering offerings for Chances Kelowna. In 2013, Walt realized it was time to take the business to an even higher level – he was ready to share the driver’s seat, so to speak, and invited well-known gaming professional Jovica Perovic, to be the General Manager. Perovic’s experience in the industry along with his leadership skills have been paramount to refining the business and capitalizing on hidden opportunities. Today Chances remains in a growth phase and looks forward to continuing to work with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation to make Chances Kelowna the best it can be by “helping players escape into a world of gaming entertainment.” Kristine Jones is Marketing and Guest Services Manager of Chances Kelowna. For more information, visit www.chanceskelowna.ca MODEST BEGINNINGS Chances employees say that if you spend one hour with Walt, you’ll quickly understand where their drive for success stems from. Courtesy, commitment and consistency are the three C’s that Walt has always instilled in his management team and frontline employees. Growing up around bingo, and quickly recognizing his appreciation and passion for the game, Walt successfully owned and operated over 10 bingo halls throughout the years before finally settling in Kelowna. 2004 was the year Chances Kelowna came to life – well, as lively as it could with only 50 slot machines! It was little more than an upscale bingo hall with a few slots. The residents of Kelowna still called Chances the “Bingo Hall” which took an aggressive marketing campaign to dissolve the bingo hall stigma attached to what is now a state-of-the-art gaming Canadian Gaming Business | 27
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