Hastings Park to Lose Slots Revenue Starting Jan. 31

The British Columbia Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries were blindsided Nov. 27 by an announcement from the provincial government that horse racing would stop receiving any share of slot machine revenue effective Jan. 31. Hastings Park began operating slot machines in 2008 as part of an initiative to expand gaming in the western Canadian province. Because the slots would cannibalize handle at the track, the province returned a portion of the gaming revenue that since 2015 has been 25%, according to a December 2024 report by Canadian Thoroughbred. For about five years, this revenue share was about $11 million annually and in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic has been around $9 million. As of Jan. 31, that share goes to zero. "It was unexpected and a shock," said David Milburn, president of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association B.C. and an owner, trainer, and breeder. "When slot machines were introduced years ago, they were provided to the track with the understanding that the expansion of gaming the province was going through at the time would dramatically impact our handle and revenue sources. In order to stabilize the industry, the racetracks were allowed to have slot machines, and a portion of that revenue went into purses. "The same government that gave slot machines to the racetracks decades ago is now taking away that revenue. I see it as a breach of trust," he continued. The announcement was made in a Nov. 25 letter from Nina Krieger, who is Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia, to Jeff Andrus, a lobbyist and director of client services for Horse Racing BC, which represents British Columbia Thoroughbred and Standardbred interests. "I am writing to advise that government has completed its review of the horse racing industry in B.C. ("the review"). While the review identified some economic, social, and other benefits flowing from live horse racing in B.C., it also revealed significant concerns with its financial sustainability and ongoing viability despite revitalization efforts," the letter started. "Horse Racing BC's April 2025 Industry Plan presented a possible path forward for horse racing in B.C., but not without significant additional government funding over the next three years. In the government's current fiscal situation, we are unable to support this additional funding request. "We also reviewed the practice of providing the horse racing industry with a share of net slot machine revenue from Hastings Casino and Elements Casino Surrey. Given the significant financial sustainability concerns revealed by this review, we have made the very difficult decision to stop providing net slot machine revenue to the industry as of January 31, 2026." Milburn said the impact from this "out of the blue" decision will be dramatic and harsh for the province's racing and breeding industries. "We are going to do whatever we can to conduct a meet at Hastings in 2026. We have no intention of dropping purses, so that means fewer race days," he said. "We have not determined how many race days that will be and in what footprint of the year." Milburn said he expects fewer races will mean many people will lose their jobs and that many of those people who are now living at the racetrack will also lose housing. Because the specialized skills required at the racetrack don't necessarily translate to other businesses, he is concerned that many racetrack workers will be forced to rely on welfare and subsidized housing. "So the government is taking away the money from one place and will have to pay somewhere else," he said. Milburn said this decision will further devastate the British Columbia breeding industry that has already suffered severe declines. In 2008 when Hastings started operating slot machines, the province's foal crop was around 400 foals. By 2023, the foal crop fell to 77, according to the records from The Jockey Club. "Breeders rely on long-term; they need certainty," he said. "For the government to do this, it's going to put the cold wind right across the breeding industry." In Krieger's letter, she states that further government support of horse racing is not likely to bolster racing and breeding industries. "This decision has been made after careful analysis of the current economic impact and long-term projections for the industry, which have shown that even with significant and ongoing government investment from casino-generated revenue, the industry is not sustainable because of a range of factors, primarily declining revenues and public participation and attendance at horse racing events," her letter stated. Milburn said the provincial government is simply breaking its promise to an entire industry. "That sum of money was given to the industry on a trust, and now they have uncoupled the racing from the casinos. The casino exists because of the racetrack, not the other way around," he said. "The government is going back on their word."