Casinos Begin Re-Opening Across Canada
From Alberta to Nova Scotia, some casinos of Canada are getting the go-ahead to welcome guests once more.
After more than a year, some parts of daily life are getting back to normal – or as normal as can be expected. One such return is this week’s announcement that some Canadian casinos are re-opening their tables and gaming machines to the public. Not all facilities will re-open, mind you. Bars and performance centers have yet to make the list. But the local casinos themselves will accept patrons, in limited capacity, at a number of casinos from Alberta to Nova Scotia.
Casinos in Canada Re-Open, Starting with Alberta
The news began rolling in last week with an announcement from Century Casinos on Thursday. The company issued a press release stating that all of its casinos and racetracks in Alberta had officially opened their doors. The Century Casino & Hotel Edmonton, Century Casino St. Albert, Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, and Century Sports Calgary all reopened their doors on June 10, 2021.
This marks the first time any of these facilities have welcomed guests since December 13, 2020. That was the day the Alberta government imposed a lock-down that included the mandatory closure of all gaming facilities in the province.
According to that press release, “The regulation lifting the lockdown for casinos includes social distancing practices and enhanced health and safety protocols based on Alberta Health Services guidelines.”
Meanwhile in Nova Scotia, Casinos Open Today
The easterly province of Nova Scotia is moving ahead this week with its plan to re-open businesses. Great Canadian Gaming, owner of the island’s two gaming properties, announced Tuesday that both casinos would officially begin welcoming guests back to the gaming floor on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
Following the provincially mandated closure in April of last year, both Casino Nova Scotia properties in Halifax and Sydney will re-open today. A reduction in gaming capacity, as well as food and beverage services, is in place to comply with current limitations.
GCG Interim CEO Terrance Doyle comments:
“We are excited to reopen both of our Casino Nova Scotia properties, call our team members back to work, and welcome back our guests. We feel this important development is a precursor to the reopenings we are also eagerly anticipating in British Columbia and Ontario, based on the success of the country’s vaccination program thus far.”
Quebec’s Casino du Lac-Leamy Opening June 23
Next up on the list of grand re-openings is Gatineau, Quebec’s Casino du Lac-Leamy, and the adjacent Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel. Both will open their doors on June 23, 2021. The casino is imposing special restrictions to ensure the safety of all guests, including passing out rubber-tip stylus pens to all guests to eliminate the need to touch gaming machines.
Upon reopening, Casino du Lac-Leamy will welcome a reduced capacity of up to 1,000 guests at a time; 250 per zone. Masks will be mandatory for all guests and employees on the gaming floor. Like casinos in Alberta, all bars and performance venues will remain closed for now. Online booking services will begin taking reservations on June 21. The casino is anticipating a high enough demand that reserving a spot in the casino is strongly encouraged.
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