The City of Vancouver is considering a plan to allow slot machines at Hastings Park to continue operating even though horse racing has been suspended. A staff report going before city council this week requests a non-enforcement resolution of bylaws that currently permit slot machines only when horse racing is also taking place.
The report, which will be discussed at a committee on strategic priorities on Wednesday, asks council to direct staff not to enforce a 2004 rezoning condition that ties the operation of the casino to the use of the racetrack facility. The province cancelled all horse racing subsidies to Hastings Park last year, leading operators to stop racing horses at the site in late 2025.
Background of the Hastings Park Slot Machine Operations
Hastings Park Racecourse has long relied on slot machine revenue to subsidize horse racing and provide benefits to the city. The 2004 rezoning allowed up to 900 slot machines at the track, with a subsequent development permit capping the number at 600 in the grandstand. A portion of the income has gone to a public benefits package. However, the rezoning requires horse racing to be active for slot machines to operate legally.
With the racetrack closed, the city, as landowner, is exploring long-term options for the site, which may require a new rezoning. During these discussions, the operator—Hastings Entertainment Inc. and Great Canadian Entertainment—proposes to continue slot machine operations without horse racing, which is not permitted under current approvals.
Proposed Temporary Non-Enforcement
The staff report seeks council approval for a temporary non-enforcement resolution to allow slot machines to keep running in the existing grandstand building without horse racing. This would give operators up to three years of slot revenue to support business continuity and protect existing jobs while the city plans the site's future.
The report notes that continued revenue and a council resolution not to crack down on the slots would support employment and business continuity during a challenging economic environment with significant pressures on the entertainment sector.
Uncertain Future and Potential Developments
The future of the racecourse remains uncertain. Proposals for alternative uses that do not include horse racing may require site rezoning and other approvals. One possibility is the Vancouver Whitecaps using Hastings Park as a new home, along with an entertainment district. The soccer team's owners and the city signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect at the end of 2025, but little progress has been made since.
Under the current system, the city collects gaming revenue from Hastings under the Gaming Control Act of B.C. and retains 10 percent of net slot machine revenues, averaging about $1.1 million per year for the city budget.
The racetrack had been in operation since 1882 on city-owned land before ceasing operations in late 2025 due to financial reasons. Slot machines, however, have continued to operate despite the suspension of horse racing, leading to the current legal gray area that council is being asked to address.
