Abbotsford city council rejected an increase in the number of slot machines at a community gaming centre without hearing from the community first on Monday night.

In a very narrow decision, council voted 5-4 not to push a rezoning request by Chances Community Gaming Centre for more machines forward to a public hearing.

Chances wanted to boost its current 125 slot machines to a maximum number of 300, in increments of 25 to 50 depending on the need. Coun. Simon Gibson strongly opposed moving the proposal forward.

"There's a continuous unrelenting push to expand gambling," said Gibson.

"This is a radical increase. This is over a 100 per cent increase of the slot machines."

He expressed concern around the problems of public safety and addictions tied to gambling.

"This is not money just minted or created. It's money that comes out of family budgets," he said.

Gibson urged council to reject the proposal outright.

"Lets not even take this to public hearing . . . let's show some leadership on this policy."

Chances, owned by Playtime Community Gaming Centres Inc., opened up its renvovated Peardonville Road location in June, 2009.

The original plan to establish slot machines generated protracted debate within council and the community at large.

As many as 500 people - supporters and detractors - packed one of the city's largest and longest public hearings in the fall of 2007. In the end, the council voted to allow Abbotsford Bingo to evolve into Chances Community Gaming Centre complete with 125 slot machines in November of the same year.

During Monday's debate, Coun. Patricia Ross said she wanted to hear from residents on the issue. She later expressed disappointment with council's decision.

"What's the harm in taking this issue out to the public and seeing how they feel about the facility now it's been up and running a few years," she said.

"People felt strongly on both sides, and we shouldn't be afraid to hear it again."

It's unusual for council to decide on an issue before sending to a public hearing, Ross said.

"It's not common practice," she said.

"It's rare. It can happen that way, but it's rare."

Councillors Les Barkman, Dave Loewen, Henry Braun and Bill MacGregor also voted the proposal down.

While most opposing the plan expressed social or economic concerns, MacGregor said he wasn't opposed to gambling.

"I am in support of casinos but not in support of slot machines," he said.

"Slot machines have the worst return."

MacGregor said he didn't like the Chances location and the city should develop other gambling venues.

"I still think we should be moving forward to investigate the combination of a hotel, convention centre and casino, which would benefit the city in a huge way," he said.

"But this, I don't see the benefit."

Art Villa, Chances' coordinator of business development, said he was taken aback by the decision.

"I was extremely surprised they didn't move it forward to a public hearing," he said. "It doesn't hurt them to do it."

However, he questioned whether councillors opposed to the plan on principle would have been swayed by any future public input.

It was extremely unlikely the B.C. Lottery Corporation would ever approve a casino and hotel complex in Abbotsford, Villa said.

As the host local government, the City of Abbotsford got more than $800,000 in 2011 from its 10 per cent share of gaming revenue.

"If there were more machines, it would exceed a million dollars," said Villa.

Additionally, 73 Abbotsford community and charity groups derive funding from gaming proceeds.

About $100,000 dollars was distributed last year to groups such as the MSA Museum Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, school parent advisory councils, Abbotsford Community Services, and Rotary, Lions and Soroptimist service clubs, said Villa.

Although council kiboshed new slot machines, it did send the gaming centre's request to obtain a primary liquor licence to a public hearing on Feb. 20.

Barkman voted against the slots expansion but swung the vote in favour of the liquor licence proposal.

Gibson argued against the plan, saying alcohol lowered people's inhibitions while in casinos.

Villa said Chances would explore further options around the slot machine expansion at a later date.

"Our first priority right now is to look at the liquor licence application," he said, adding the gaming centre was the only one in B.C. that couldn't serve alcohol.

Patrons don't come to the establishment to drink but to entertain themselves, he said.

"We're an adult amenity and you have to be 19 to get in," said Villa.

"If people want a drink while they are here, what's the problem with that?"

Councillors Ross, John Smith, Moe Gill and Mayor Bruce Banman were the four on council who voted in support of pushing both proposals to a public hearing.

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com