Casino Rama Resort is the only casino location in Ontario that is still closed for operation. Chippewas of Rama First Nation Chief Ted Williams recently stated that the tribal casino resort is capable of going through these tough times and making it to the other side. He pointed out that the hotspot is not going to close permanently.
The province of Ontario has seen a dynamically changing situation over the past couple of weeks, as some of its casinos relaunched operation while others had to suspend their operation temporarily. Gateway Casinos & Entertainment recently greenlighted in-person gambling in almost the entire Ontario, reopening its casino facilities and gambling halls to the public.
Casino Gaming
Individuals interested in gaming following months of closure now have the chance to do so in many communities across the province, the only exception being Orillia. Casino Rama Resort remained the only casino location still open, more than half a year after the official start of lockdown in Ontario. Gateway Casinos & Entertainment planned a two-phase reopening on October 8 and 10.
The first casinos to welcome back patrons were Playtime Hanover, Gateway Casinos Woodstock, Gateway Casinos Clinton, and Gateway Casinos Chatham. October 10 saw the relaunch of even more venues, namely Starlight Point Edward, Gateway Casinos Sarnia, Gateway Casinos London, Gateway Casinos Sudbury, Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie, Gateway Casinos Thunder Bay, and Gateway Casinos Innisfil. The Orillia gaming hotspot is the sole venue still closed.
Mr. Williams recently pointed out that this ongoing closure is not expected to negatively impact Casino Rama’s future and sustainability. He also reminded that the gaming location is capable of generating up to CA$300 million over the course of a single year, making it one of the great supporters of the city coffers and the province in general. It will be able to return to its daily operation once the casino operator deems that appropriate.
Casino Rama Resort Structure
The Chief also said that there might be some changes once daily work at the casino resort resumes. Rama First Nation continued bagging the slice of revenue it is eligible for over the past more than half a year and this gives the Chief hope that it will all be fine soon. There are also tribe members with extensive experience in the gaming operation of the casino venue helping it thrive.
When it comes to the casino venue, last summer saw some 70 unionized workers exit the casino staff for good as part of a staff reduction process. Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton now says that the casino venue faces hard times as casino expansion continues across Ontario. Back in the days, staff members amounted to some 2,000 individuals, but their number has been halved over the past few years. About 40 of them are Rama band members.
The dynamically changing situation in Ontario called for the closure of some casinos. Great Canadian Gaming Corporation put a temporary hold on daily operation at Casino Woodbine only weeks after it relaunched 11 of its casino locations in the province. All six of Quebec’s gaming hotspots are also closed.