Remember when the plans were being drawn up for the so-called “Entertainment Centre” at the Charlottetown Driving Park? Provincial officials, and those from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) bent themselves over backwards to avoid using either “casino” or “slot machine” when speaking of the project; it was always “entertainment centre” and “video lottery terminal” (or the ALC’s preferred term: “electronic gaming device”).

Well today the rubicon was crossed: the CBC is reporting that ‘Slots riding to rescue racino’ and Robert Bourgeois of the ALC actually uttered the words:

“They wanted slot machines that they were more familiar with and they were more comfortable with,” says Bourgeois.

“So we will be introducing 30 slot machines that are similar to the different slot machines that are found in other similar facilities such as ours.”

What hell? “Other similar facilities such as ours?” You mean casinos, right?

Of course all this reticence hasn’t kept the Entertainment Centre itself from calling them as they see them (emphasis mine):

This new state-of-the-art facility features a gaming room with 225 slot machines, a Player’s Club and dining at the Top of the Park which showcases an all you can eat buffet, à la carte menu plus screens on most of the tables so you don’t miss a minute of the action!

Surely the time when “Entertainment Centre” gives way “Casino” can’t be too far away? One can even imagine Mr. Bourgeois being interviewed: “We’re calling it a Casino because our customers are more familiar with and they were more comfortable with…”.

See also Government Announces Plans for Crack Cocaine Sales.