Great Canadian Entertainment and Petroglyph Development Group (PDG) have closed the PDG’s previously announced acquisitions of Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria.

The acquisitions of the Vancouver Island casinos, which were first announced in the second half of 2024, bring the casinos under the control of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, as well as returning the land upon which they stand to the Indigenous community.

PDG is a wholly owned corporation of Snuneymuxw that is dedicated to realizing the economic potential of the Nation.

The deal for Casino Nanaimo was initially announced in late June 2024, while the Victoria acquisition was revealed in September 10, 2024. They have now been finalized after receiving all required approvals from the regulatory authorities.

Great Canadian CEO Matt Anfinson said previously that the company could think of no better entity to continue the two casinos’ legacy than Snuneymuxw and PDG.

“We celebrate the closing of our two casino acquisitions and our continued progress toward building a strong Snuneymuxw economy,” added Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse. “For decades, Snuneymuxw leadership has worked tirelessly toward this moment, recognizing the connection between a strong economy, self-determination, and the foundation of nationhood.

“Today, we honour the achievements of those who came before us by securing businesses that will strengthen our Nation for generations to come. Thank you to the PDG and Great Canadian teams for your exceptional work. We look forward to a rewarding partnership with the B.C. Lottery Corporation, driving economic growth for the Nation and province.”

PDG President Erralyn Joseph added that the acquisitions will help PDG and Snuneymuxw realize “our socio-economic potential and influence at a local, national, and global level.” The corporation’s CEO, Ian Simpson, said the acquisition of the gaming assets “marks a pivotal shift for Snuneymuxw and Vancouver Island.”

Simpson went into much more detail about the motivations behind the deal and why the move into gaming operations has been a long time coming for Snuneymuxw in a feature interview in the January 2025 edition of Canadian Gaming Business magazine.