The community is abuzz this evening after, based on multiple tips received, an email-based survey purporting to be from Sandhills Casino may be at least researching the viability of relocating from Carberry to the Brandon-area at some unknown point in the future.
In the survey, sent out this afternoon, one question states quite bluntly “Sand Hills Casino is considering relocating in close proximity to Brandon, MB.” It then proceeds to ask “How would your visitation to Sand Hills Casino change if, at all, if Sand Hills Casino were to relocate?”
Other questions probe whether relocation may effect one’s gambling budget or visitation of other casinos and then explore a respondent’s opinion on available dining and entertainment options in Brandon.
I’ll save you the long story on the history of casinos, plebiscites, etc in Brandon but it goes without saying that this one brings about more questions than answers. It should be stressed that simply asking survey questions would not amount to relocation and that there is no indication of any change in status of Sand Hills Casino as it operates today. I have a message in with Sand Hills Casino and will update if more is learned, including if they can verify the authenticity of the survey. In the mean time you can have your say in the attached discussion thread which was started by an eBrandon member after receiving the survey.
Update, Jan 16 @ 9:30am: In a Brandon Sun story, Swan Lake First Nation Chief Francine Meeches is quoted as saying she has no intention of moving the casino