Parq Vancouver has apologized after Canadian rapper Drake claimed that he was profiled and kept from gambling at the casino.
"Parq Casino @parqvancouverbc is the worst run business I have ever witnessed...profiling me and not allowing me to gamble when I had everything they originally asked me for," Drake said in an early morning post on Saturday.
Parq Vancouver issued a statement Saturday morning saying that it was investigating the issue.
It then followed up with a statement at 5:30 p.m. that read:
"You may be aware of a situation at our casino last night. On behalf of Parq Vancouver we would like to apologize for the experience our customer had. We are operating in one of the most complex, highly regulated industries and are always looking to better our communication and customer service. We are constantly improving our communications process to ensure that these new regulations are better understood by all guests. We categorically stand against racism of any kind. We are committed to providing a safe, secure and enjoyable experience for all."
The B.C. government in December 2017 started to require B.C. casinos to have customers fill out forms and provide a source for their money if they are gambling with more than $10,000. The intent was to combat money laundering, and it is unclear if this was the case in the incident with Drake.
The source-of-funds declaration that the B.C. government requires includes the customer's identification, the source of their funds and bank account information.
Parq Vancouver is a resort with two luxury hotels and the only casino in Vancouver's downtown core.
Drake is in Vancouver to perform two shows at Rogers Arena this weekend.
