Powered by a rebound at the slot machines, Treasure Cove Casino saw a $780,000 increase in revenue during the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to a B.C. Lottery Corp. report.
In all, the casino took in $55.8 million in revenue, a 1.4-per-cent rise over 2015-16.
After years of decline, revenue from slot machines jumped $972,000 to $44.3 million, which was offset somewhat by a $317,000 drop to $2.1 million at the tables.
Bingo remained as popular as ever, bringing in $9.1 million, up $125,000. Treasure Cove remained the top earner among the 28 venues in the province offering the game. Next highest was Chances Kelowna at $8.1 million.
On the casino side, Treasure Cove was the ninth-highest earner among 17 venues. River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond topped the list at $337.7 million. Billy Barker Casino in Quesnel was at the bottom at $8.5 million.
The figures translated into $13.4 million in commission for Treasure Cove, up $103,000, with $12 million coming from slots and tables and $1.4 million from bingo.
According to the report, service providers receive 25 per cent of net win from slots, 40 per cent of net win from tables, 75 per cent of poker rake, 75 per cent of craps and 60 per cent of low limit blackjack (defined as tables with minimum bets of $5 and a maximum bet limit of $50 per hand).
As for bingo, they get 60 per cent of sales on the first $20,000 per week, 40 per cent sales on the next $60,000 per week, and 25 per cent on sales greater than $80,000 per week, all after the prizes have been paid out.
Treasure Cove's overall total remains significantly down from the $77.3 million spent on gambling in the city in 2007-08.
By 2009-10, the figure had plummeted to $50.6 million, due to the recession and the ill-fated Chances Good Time Prince George downtown. Bingo was brought back into the casino in 2009.
