After the Province of Ontario issued an announcement regarding the loosening of health and safety regulations, almost all the casinos operating there are excited for the reopening of business. The management of Casino Rama in this week announced that their facility is now ready to resume for business on Monday, January 31, 2022. On this day too, the Province of Ontario also lifted some of the restrictions it had put in place.
Ontario announced that on January 5, 2022 it will be begin operations to enter a reformed Step 2 of plans to have businesses reopened. The decision was taken following the rising cases of Covid-19 new variant across the province, something that saw social venues such as bars, casinos and restaurants remaining closed to at least January 26.
Reopening Next Week
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, a firm that operates a number of gaming properties including some establishments in Ontario issued a statement this week stating that they were now ready for reopening of their business. The firm stated that by Monday, January 31, 2022, they would be ready for relaunch and further confirmed that they will be operating at 50% of their total guest capacity.
Robert Mitchell, who acts as the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Gateway Casinos & Entertainment also said that the firm is happy to be reopening their gaming facility and its once again welcoming back their personnel. Hotel Simcoe Yard House Pub, and St. Germain’s Steakhouse will also all be reopening. Weir’s restaurant is another establishment that will soon be opening for business.
The casino will be opening its doors for business on Monday 10 a.m., with staff already being recalled back to work following their January 5 closure. Players will also be able to enjoy table games and slot machines by the time everything goes back to normal. But the centre bar will continue remaining closed up until February 21, a time when alcohol will be once again sold on the gaming floor. The entertainment centre may continue to remain closed for a while and expected to reopen probably on March 14.
Niagara Falls Also Plans to Reopen Casinos
More and more Canadian Casino establishments are also expected to resume for business, with both Fallsview Casino and Resort and Casino Niagara slated to welcome its customers once again. Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls was quoted saying that he’s delighted with the reopening, a move that will see many employees back to work. Diodati said that over 4,000 personnel are employed by the 2 properties.
Mayor Diodati further said that the two establishments had done everything that they could to ensure that they are in an immaculate state and ready to welcome back customers in safe environment. As a host of many casinos, Niagara Falls City do receive quarterly payouts from OLG. The funds that they receive are important to the region’s coffers, to mean that the entire municipality can’t wait for the gaming centres up and running.
Last year, though, the closure of both Fallsview Casino and Resort and Casino Niagara impacted the budget of Niagara Falls. The acting finance director, Jon Leavens explained that in the summer of 2020, the region got CA$23 million from OLG, but following the closures of 2021, the figure reduced up to CA$19.1 million. Leavens further argued that such a figure could increase should the closures further increase.
