Bingo halls and in-house casinos across Alberta are putting final touches in place in anticipation of the lifting of current restrictions and the imminent reopening of these venues.
After three months of shutdown, in-house casinos and bingo halls in Alberta have been given the green light from the provincial authorities to start preparing for a reopening. The province is expected to see a surge in gambling enthusiasts flocking to their favourite casinos, and a strict set of health and safety measures have been put in place to protect the guests and casino staff. The restart of business was initially scheduled for 1 March, although that has been delayed to the end of the month to ensure all protocols are in place.
Casino Venues Ready for Reopening
Despite a three-month shutdown, the authorities are confident that there’s sufficient interest from gamblers to fill the venues. Brenda Pope, the manager of Castledowns Bingo Hall in Edmonton, noted that even if most Albertans have already been vaccinated, necessary checks like body temperature and sanitisation of surfaces need to be followed.
Bingo Alberta noted that all its staff have been attending online training courses to familiarise themselves with the necessary health and safety measures. Even though some players might still be concerned and hesitant, all gambling properties need to comply with mandatory measures.
Vik Mahajan, the CEO of River Creek Casino and Resort, noted that the venue’s 1,000 employees are looking forward to returning to work, with the casino ready to reopen at a moment’s notice. Mahajan estimates revenue influx to the tune of CA$1,25 for the upcoming financial year since there is a pent-up demand for gambling.
Single-Game Sports Betting Endorsement
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis authority voiced its full support for legalising single-game sports betting in the province and across Canada. The regulatory body noted that the bill’s ratification would prevent players from pouring millions of dollars into offshore sites and contribute to higher tax revenue, which can be redirected towards local communities and business.
