Author Archives: Natasha Akerman

Variety – The Children’s Charity Awards Great Canadian Gaming Corporation the Prestigious International Award

Richmond, B.C. (August 10, 2015): Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a proud recipient of the coveted International Award, presented by Variety – The Children’s Charity. This annual award is granted to companies that have demonstrated a high level of support and commitment to Variety, a charitable organization whose mission is to improve the lives of children who are sick, disadvantaged or live with special needs.

“Great Canadian Gaming is more than a supporter of Variety. They are a partner that helps bring our annual Telethon to life. The Telethon rallies British Columbians in one weekend, celebrating stories of amazing children who have special needs who face unimaginable challenges and achieve little victories. It is Variety’s largest fundraising event of the year and a beloved annual event that would not be possible without our partners such as Great Canadian Gaming,” said Bill Senghera, President of Variety – The Children’s Charity.

Since 2008, Variety’s Show of Hearts Telethon has been hosted by Great Canadian at its Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (previously Boulevard Casino) location. Assistance is provided through financial and in-kind donations, staff volunteer hours and by granting use of the theatre facilities. This year’s telethon raised nearly six million for children in BC who have special needs.

“Being recognized for our community efforts in this manner is a tremendous honour. Our nomination and win would not be possible without the hours put in by our colleagues whose contributions during the Telethon are countless,” said Chuck Keeling, Vice President, Stakeholder Relations and Responsible Gaming, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

Great Canadian was nominated by Variety’s BC chapter. Previous BC-based recipients of the International Award are Global BC and White Spot.

Variety raises funds to provide help and hope to children who have special needs and fund organizations that provide support and services to children in BC. Every year, Variety assists more than 1,200 children in over 125 cities and towns with life-saving, life-changing and life- enriching support. To learn more about Variety, please visit http://www.variety.bc.ca/ .

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Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a Canadian based company that operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company has 16 gaming properties, which consists of nine casinos, including one with a four Diamond resort hotel, four horse racetrack casinos and three community gaming centres. A key element of Great Canadian’s business model is its commitment to social responsibility.

PROUD of our people, our business, our community is Great Canadian’s brand that unifies the company’s community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually invests over $2 million in our communities, and in 2014, over 1,200 charitable organizations were supported by Great Canadian. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, the majority of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities goes back directly to provincial governments for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services.

For all media inquiries please contact:

Sonja Mandic,
Manager, Media and Responsible Gaming
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604.889.7114. smandic@gcgaming.com

Chances Maple Ridge Names Alisa’s Wish Child and Youth Advocacy Centre as its Signature Charitable Partner

Maple Ridge, B.C (August 5, 2015): Chances Maple Ridge is proud to announce that it has selected Alisa’s Wish Child and Youth Advocacy Centre as its signature charitable partner. As part of the announcement and commitment, Chances Maple Ridge made a $10,000 donation to the organization on July 28.

“The Chances staff not only committed to invest long term in Alisa’s Wish, but they also committed with their hearts. The passion that exudes from this organization to support Alisa’s Wish is extraordinary. There weren’t too many dry eyes at the Centre when a big bouquet of balloons arrived, followed by a big cheque, followed by staff who think that the children of this community significantly matter. With the strength of this community partnership, Alisa’s Wish can count on helping kids well into the future. This is a true gift,” said Treena Innes, Development Director, Alisa’s Wish Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

Alisa’s Wish is a community initiative, managed by Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services, that helps all children and youth in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Katzie First Nations, who have experienced or witnessed abuse of any kind. The Centre has the potential to help 200 victims and their supporting families as it currently employs one part time Child and Youth Counsellor and one part time Program Coordinator.

“After learning more about Alisa’s Wish and their programs, we knew that we wanted to become an active supporter that will offer more than just financial support. We will look to assist through employee volunteering efforts, fundraising initiatives and by being their advocate in the community,” said Ken Stratton, General Manager, Chances Maple Ridge.

To view a video clip from the presentation ceremony, please visit http://youtu.be/IUiJ8U6jCzc .

For more information about Alisa’s Wish Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, please visit http://www.alisaswish.com/ .

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Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a Canadian based company that operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company has 16 gaming properties, which consists of casinos, including one with a four Diamond resort hotel, horse racetrack casinos and community gaming centres. A key element of Great Canadian’s business model is its commitment to social responsibility.

PROUD of our people, our business, our community is Great Canadian’s brand that unifies the company’s community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually invests over $2 million in our communities, and in 2014, over 1,200 charitable organizations were supported by Great Canadian. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, the majority of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities goes back directly to provincial governments for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services
.
For further information, please contact:

Sonja Mandic
Manager, Media and Responsible Gaming
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604.889.7114 or smandic@gcgaming.com

Judas Priest’s ‘Redeemer of Souls’ Tour Includes Two Dates At Hard Rock Casino Vancouver

COQUITLAM, BC (July 27, 2015)

27Fans of Judas Priest will have the opportunity to see the Grammy-winning band in an up-close and intimate setting when the heavy metal icons perform for two shows at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on Tuesday, October 27 & Wednesday, October 28, 2015.

Formed in 1970 in Birmingham, England, Judas Priest released their first album, Rocka Rolla in 1974 followed two years later by Sad Wings of Destiny. After signing with CBS Records, they released the 1977 album, Sin After Sin followed by 1978’s Stained Class and 1979’s Hell Bent for Leather. They then released their first live album, Unleashed in the East which was recorded in Tokyo. The album spawned such metal anthems as “Sinner”, “Diamonds and Rust”, “Hell Bent for Leather” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)”.

Priest went on to achieve even bigger success in the 80’s releasing such all-time classic albums as British Steel (1980), Point of Entry (1981), Screaming for Vengeance (1982) and Defenders of the Faith (1984) all of which produced several enduring metal anthems including “Breaking the Law”, “Living After Midnight”, “Heading Out to the Highway” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”. The remainder of the 80’s saw the group embrace more melodic hard rock sounds on Turbo in 1986 and Ram It Down in 1988 before releasing arguably the heaviest release of their entire career, 1990’s Painkiller.

In 2008, they released their double-disc album, Nostradamus which peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 followed by 2009’s A Touch of Evil Live which won the band a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Their most recent album, Redeemer of Souls was released last year debuting at #5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and #6 on the Billboard 200.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 10:00 am and are $109.50 (plus service charges) – General Admission & $149.50 (plus service charges) – Reserved Balcony. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to HardRockCasinoVancouver.com.

About Hard Rock Casino Vancouver:

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver is situated in the thriving City of Coquitlam, British Columbia in Metro Vancouver and is home to unparalleled entertainment, dining and gaming offerings. With an 80,000 square foot casino floor, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver offers more than 950 interactive slot machines and popular table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, pai gow, craps, VIP high limit salons and others. With multiple performance spaces including a state-of-the-art 1,100 seat theatre, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver boasts the best in music and comedy as well as local artists. To complement the gaming and entertainment experience, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver serves a variety of culinary options and is home to chefs that dish up unique and flavourful fare in a modern atmosphere. For the latest news and events, follow Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on Facebook facebook.com/HardRockCasinoVancouver and Twitter twitter.com/HardRockCasinoV.

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver is owned and operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation under license from HRHH IP, LLC (“HRHH”). Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the flagship property owned by an affiliate of HRHH.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Donnie Gordon
Manager, Entertainment Publicity
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604.247.4127
dgordon@gcgaming.com

 

GREAT CANADIAN GAMING TO REPORT SECOND QUARTER 2015 RESULTS ON AUGUST 12

July 23, 2015 Richmond, BC – Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] (“the Company”) announced that it will release its financial results for the three month period ended June 30, 2015 after the market close on August 12, 2015. The Company will also host a conference call on that date at 2:00 PM Pacific, at which time management will both review the financial results and discuss the progress of the business. The following senior management will be available to answer analyst and investor questions:

  • Mr. Rod N. Baker, President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Mr. Kiran S. Rao, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mr. Terrance Doyle, Executive Vice President, Operations and Development
  • Mr. Peter Goudron, Executive Vice President, Strategic Resources
  • Mr. Victor Poleschuk, Executive Vice President, Ontario Operations and Development

The second quarter 2015 results press release, condensed interim consolidated financial statements, and management’s discussion and analysis will be available on the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com, on August 12, 2015 after 1:10 PM Pacific. This information will also be available on www.sedar.com on August 13, 2015.

The conference call may be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com. The conference call may also be accessed by dialing 416-764-8688, 778-383-7413 or toll free at 888-390-0546 (Passcode: 03816079). Questions will be reserved for analysts and investors.

Following completion of the call, a replay will be available via the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com.

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company’s 16 gaming properties consist of three community gaming centres, four racetracks, and nine casinos, including one with a Four Diamond resort hotel. Further information is available on the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
95 Schooner Street
Coquitlam, BC
V3K 7A8
(604) 303-1000
Website: www.gcgaming.com

For investor enquiries:
Email: ir@gcgaming.com
or
Ms. Tanya Ruskowski
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and the CFO
(604) 303-1000

For media enquiries:
Mr. Chuck Keeling
Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations and Responsible Gaming
(604) 247-4197

Supporting the Annual WESTCOAST Motorcycle Ride to Live

The annual WESTCOAST Motorcycle Ride to Live benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of BC, was once again supported by Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino and Chances Chilliwack. Both venues donated their sites as meeting locations and contributed in raising a record $175,000 for prostate cancer this year.

WESTCOAST Motorcycle Ride To Live was established in 2010 by Peter and Colleen Groenland, and a dedicated executive committee team. The goal of the Ride to Live event is to raise funds for prostate cancer research, education and awareness.

Nepal Disaster Relief Supported by River Rock Casino Resort

When the Nepal earthquake hit and killed thousands of people, communities around the world came together and raised funds for those impacted by the tragic event.

At the River Rock Casino Resort, colleagues rallied together and raised $1,300. The donation was made to the Canadian Red Cross and further matched by the Canadian Federal Government bringing the total to $2,600. In addition, support was also provided by donating the River Rock Show Theatre space and equipment, value of $8,000, to the organizers of the Nepal Fundraiser held at the theatre on May 23.

“By donating the River Rock theatre space, equipment and labour hours, we were able to support the efforts of the organizers whose goal was to raise as much money as possible for this important cause,” said Gary Olsen, Director Entertainment, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

River Rock Casino Resort Donates $20,000 to Richmond Family Place

Last year, River Rock Casino Resort named Richmond Family Place as the property’s signature charitable partner and this year, as one part of their relationship with the organization, River Rock donated $20,000 to support their programs.

“We are so proud of the relationship we have built with the Richmond Family Place over the last year, because we have seen first-hand how much support they provide to the entire community,” said Roland Monteiro, Executive Director, River Rock Casino Resort.

The donated funds will support key programs that are provided by Richmond Family Place during the Food Bank distribution days. Such programs include the Early Learning program where families attending the food bank can play in a rich learning environment as well as the evening Family Fun Café which provides a light dinner, activities and discussions that include cooking on a budget, food preservation, and gardening in small spaces.

Richmond Family Place was established in 1979 with the purpose of offering support to families in the Richmond community. Today, Richmond Family Place serves over 5,000 families, 300 community meals and over 6,000 parents per year through their programs, educational classes and workshops.

GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION COMPLETES PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE ESTATE OF ROSS McLEOD

June 29, 2015 – Richmond, BC – Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] (“Great Canadian” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced purchase of 3,400,000 common shares of the Company (the Estate Shares”) from a company controlled by the Estate of Ross J. McLeod (the “Estate”). The purchase price was $77.7 million or $22.8545 per share. The purchased Estate Shares represent approximately 4.87% of the number of outstanding common shares. Ross J. McLeod was a director and officer of the Company who passed away in 2011.

As set out in the Company’s May 25, 2015 press release, the Company is cancelling the Estate Shares following the purchase. Shareholders should now review their holdings and determine whether, after cancellation of the Estate Shares, the number of shares they hold trigger a requirement to register with a gaming authority. The registration requirements are set out in the Company’s articles, a copy of which is available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com.

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company’s 16 gaming properties consist of three community gaming centres, four racetracks (two with casinos operated by the Company and two with casinos operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), and nine casinos, including one with a Four Diamond resort hotel. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had approximately 3,900 employees in Canada and 500 in Washington State. Further information is available on the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com.

DISCLAIMER

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” or statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the Company in light of its historical trends and other factors. All information or statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information including statements that address expectations, estimates or projections about the future and the timing and terms of the purchase of shares from the Estate of Ross J. McLeod. Forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, or similar expressions. Such forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

Although forward-looking information is based on information and assumptions that the Company believes are current, reasonable and complete, they are subject to unknown risks, uncertainties, and a number of factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors may include, but are not limited to: the obtaining of all required approvals to purchase the Estate Shares and the benefit of that may accrue to shareholders of the Company; terms of operational service agreements with lottery corporations; changes to gaming laws that may impact our operational service agreements; pending, proposed or unanticipated regulatory or policy changes; the outcome of restructuring of gaming in Ontario; the Company’s ability to obtain and renew required business licenses, leases, and operational services agreements; the future of horse racing in Ontario; unanticipated fines, sanctions and suspensions imposed on the Company by its regulators; impact of global liquidity and credit availability; possible reassessments of the Company’s prior tax filings by tax authorities; adverse tourism trends and further decreases in levels of travel, leisure and consumer spending; competition from established competitors and new entrants in the gaming business; dependence on key personnel; the Company’s ability to manage its capital projects and its expanding operations; the risk that systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to meet regulatory requirements or to support current and expanding operations; potential undisclosed liabilities and capital expenditures associated with acquisitions; negative con notations linked to the gaming industry; First Nations rights with respect to some land on which we conduct our operations; future or current legal proceedings; construction disruptions; financial covenants associated with credit facilities and long -term debt; credit, liquidity and market risks associated with our financial instruments; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; non-realization of cost reductions and synergies; demand for new products and services; fluctuations in operating results; economic uncertainty and financial market volatility; technology dependence; and privacy breaches or data theft. The Company cautions that this list of factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Information Form for fiscal year 2014, and as identified in the Company’s disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date, and is expressly qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements in this press release. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company’s operating and financial environment. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise forward-looking information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as required by law.

ON BEHALF OF
GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

“Original Signed By Rod N. Baker”

Rod N. Baker
President and Chief Executive Officer

GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION [TSX:GC] 95 Schooner Street
Coquitlam, BC V3K 7A8
Phone: (604) 303-1000
Website: www.gcgaming.com

For enquiries: ir@gcgaming.com or
Ms. Tanya Ruskowski
Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
(604) 303-1000

SURREY’S NEW ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION – ELEMENTS CASINO – TO OPEN WINTER 2015

A multi-million dollar redevelopment of Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino

June 24, 2015 – Surrey, BC

Surrey, B.C. (June 24, 2015): As the owner and operator of leading gaming entertainment venues such as River Rock Casino Resort and Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (“GCGC”) is proud to announce the launch of Elements Casino, set to open this winter. Elements Casino will replace the existing Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino located in Surrey, BC, one of the fastest growing cities in Canada.

With the redevelopment, Elements Casino will aspire to be Canada’s all-inclusive, full service gaming entertainment venue that delivers unrivaled personal service, exciting live entertainment options, unsurpassed dining experiences and gaming offerings consisting of casino games and standardbred horse racing.
“This type of multi-million dollar property transformation allows us the opportunity to ensure our guests experience something uniquely special. With our mix of gaming options, entertainment and culinary experiences, I am confident Elements Casino will be the primary entertainment choice for many,” said Michael Kim, Director of Operations, Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Scheduled to open late this year, Elements Casino will feature more than 550 state-of-the-art interactive slot machines along with table games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette and poker. Guests will be able to enjoy new dining options focused on profiling fresh and modern menu styles all while experiencing live entertainment showcasing local and regional talent. In addition, Elements Casino will continue to offer live standardbred racing six months per year as well as year-round simulcast racing. The 2015 standardbred racing season will commence once again on October 1.

“We look forward to the grand opening of Elements Casino as it will give us an opportunity to elevate, improve and diversify the entertainment experience within the Surrey marketplace, a
region that is currently growing and projected to be the most populated city in Metro Vancouver by 2020,” said Chuck Keeling, Vice President, Stakeholder Relations and Responsible Gaming, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

To learn more about Elements Casino, please visit www.ElementsCasino.com.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a Canadian based company that operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company has 16 gaming properties, which consists of casinos, including one with a four Diamond resort hotel, horse racetrack casinos and community gaming centres. A key element of Great Canadian’s business model is its commitment to social responsibility. PROUD of our people, our business, our community is Great Canadian’s brand that unifies the company’s community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually invests over $2 million in our communities, and in 2014, over 1,200 charitable organizations were supported by Great Canadian. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, the majority of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities goes back directly to provincial governments for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sonja Mandic
Manager, Media and Responsible Gaming
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604-576-9141 / smandic@gcgaming.com

 

The Tea Party’s Canadian Tour Includes Date At Hard Rock Casino Vancouver

COQUITLAM, BC (June 22, 2015) – Canadian rock trio The Tea Party will be hitting the road with their just announced national tour which wraps up at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on Friday, October 2, 2015.

It was in 1990 when The Tea Party was formed in Windsor by Jeff Martin (vocals/guitar), Stuart Chatwood (bass/keyboards) and Jeff Burrows (drums/percussion). The next year, they released their debut self-titled album through their own label Eternal Discs. They then signed to EMI Music Canada in 1993 and released the album, Splendor Solis which attained Double Platinum status and went on to be certified Gold in Australia where the band continues to enjoy success.

The group’s third album, The Edges of Twilight was released in 1995 followed by Transmission in 1997 and Triptych – which spawned their #1 hit, “Heaven Coming Down” – in 1999 and The Interzone Mantras in 2001.

Additional hits include “The River”, “Save Me”, “Fire in the Head”, “The Bazaar”, “Sister Awake”, “Temptation”, “Release”, “Psychopomp”, “Lullaby” and “Writing’s on the Wall”.

The tour coincides with Universal Music’s release of the band’s eighth studio album, The Ocean at the End which is their first release since 2004’s Seven Circles. The album – which features the singles, “Water’s On Fire”, “The Black Sea” and “The Ocean at the End” – reached #17 on the Canadian Albums Chart while peaking at #18 on the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia. In addition to touring across the country, The Tea Party is also celebrating the 20th Anniversary of The Edges of Twilight and will be releasing a deluxe remastered CD and remastered LP in the fall.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 26, 2015 at 10:00 am and are $39.50 (plus service charges) – General Admission & $49.50 (plus service charges) – Reserved Balcony. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to HardRockCasinoVancouver.com.

About Hard Rock Casino Vancouver:

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver is situated in the thriving City of Coquitlam, British Columbia in Metro Vancouver and is home to unparalleled entertainment, dining and gaming offerings. With an 80,000 square foot casino floor, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver offers more than 950 interactive slot machines and popular table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, pai gow, craps, VIP high limit salons and others. With multiple performance spaces including a state-of-the-art 1,100 seat theatre, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver boasts the best in music and comedy as well as local artists. To complement the gaming and entertainment experience, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver serves a variety of culinary options and is home to chefs that dish up unique and flavourful fare in a modern atmosphere. For the latest news and events, follow Hard Rock Casino Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter.

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver is owned and operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation under license from HRHH IP, LLC (“HRHH”). Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the flagship property owned by an affiliate of HRHH.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Donnie Gordon
Manager, Entertainment Publicity
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604.247.4127
dgordon@gcgaming.com