Even though it has been closed down since March 2020, Casino Rama has been productive during the shutdown period, with a revamp of its gambling facilities.
Casino Rama closed its doors to the public a year ago due to the unprecedented situation caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While there is no discussion of its imminent reopening any time soon, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, the owners of Casino Rama, used the temporary lull in activities to carry out a comprehensive revamp of the casino’s gambling floor. According to reports, 20 table games and 400 slot machines will be decommissioned to make way for new equipment.
New Design
Corey Alton, the president of the casino labour union, reassured that despite the reduction in equipment, no staff member would be affected or laid off due to the changes. At this stage, there are 1,050 union members employed by the casino.
Rob Mitchell, director of public affairs at Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, reassured that all the details have been passed onto the union and that it is fully committed to the process. Mitchell added that the changes were necessary to keep Casino Rama competitive and further enhance the player experience. The new layout will provide players with easier access to various games and more straightforward floor navigation.
A Unifor representative, Tshweu Moleme, said that the union is working hard at negotiating a reopening date for the casino so that all employees could get back to their jobs as soon as possible. The union is fighting for full benefits coverage for the workers until the end of March, with partial benefits to be covered until 30 June 2021.
Additional Relaunches
The recent relaxation of government restrictions saw the reopening of several businesses across Ontario. Several of the Gateway Casinos and Entertainment venues in the area have been reopened under strict safety measures, including facilities in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.
Casino New Brunswick
Another Gateway Casinos and Entertainment venue also opened in New Brunswick, with Casino New Brunswick restarting operations on 12 February. All visitors must comply with the government’s health measures of wearing protective masks and keeping a social distance. There is also a maximum player limit set at 50 patrons at a time.
