The Navegante Group of Las Vegas and its Canadian partner, Trillium Gaming received approval-in-principle for the development of one of four new gaming destination casinos in the Canadian province of British Columbia, according to Employment and Investment Minister Mike Farnworth. The $8 million (CDN) "Campbell River Casino," is being developed in conjunction with the Campbell River Indian Band as a part of a $29 million (CDN) resort complex. It will be located in the Discovery Harbour Marina District in downtown Campbell River. The town of Campbell River is located on Vancouver Island approximately 100 miles from the city of Vancouver.Accessible by ferry and air service, it is the fourth most visited tourist attraction in British Columbia, behind only Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler.

The Campbell River Casino is one of four new casino developments in British Columbia approved by the government. "The proposed casinos mean more than 1,410 new, full-time jobs and 684 person-years of construction employment for the people of Campbell River, New Westminster and the Penticton area," said Farnworth. These four proposals bring the total of new destination casinos approved-in-principle to seven. Navegante has been awarded two of these seven proposals. In mid-May Navegante received approval-in-principle for the development of Casino of the Rockies located in the southeast part of the province.

"It is an honor to be the only company granted a license to operate two destination casinos in British Columbia," said Larry Woolf, CEO of Navegante. "We are proud of our proven ability to develop local residents into professional casino/resort operators, thus ensuring long-term economic benefit to the community."

The Navegante Group and Trillium Gaming, its Canadian gaming partner, were contracted by the Campbell River Indian Band to prepare the proposal to the government, including financial projections and marketing plans, the architectural design and renderings, gaming operations and employment strategies.

The Campbell River Casino will include 30 table games and 300 slot machines as part of a resort that includes a 130-room hotel, health club, a 300-seat restaurant and lounge with entertainment amenities, and a convention and banquet facility. Unique features of the development include a multi media theatre and a Pacific Northwest Habitat.