Chances in Kelowna wants to expand into table games.

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

Best known historically as a bingo hall, Chances in Kelowna wants to expand into table games such as blackjack and roulette.

While any such change needs the permission of the B.C. Lottery Corporation, Chances has also submitted an application to the City of Kelowna. Since this is deemed a “substantial change” in use it needs the City's approval as well.

The letter accompanying the application, signed by Stanley R. Walt, says Chances opened in 2002, started adding slot machines in 2005 and is now growing by five per cent per year.

It is the only major bingo hall in the Okanagan because the Penticton and Vernon operations closed.

It has 410 permanent bingo seats with 348 electronic terminals, 343 slot machines along with one electronic table game. It also offers “teletheatre” horse racing.

“Chances is the most prominent and comfortable venue for horse racing from Penticton to Vernon and as such we regularly entertain guests from throughout the valley,” the letter states.

The new games it wants to add “may include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and other such games as Chances and BCLC see viable in the future.” These are not electronic games but will “feature live dealers, betting chips and playing cards.”

It hopes to start the table games in the next two months.

“The request we have made will allow Chances to compete on a level playing field with its competition in Kelowna and the Okanagan valley,” the letter, states.

No change in hours are being requested. They are currently open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and until 2 a.m. the rest of the week.

If the table games are approved, the plan is to expand the existing building over the next two to three years.

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