Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced its casino locations across Ontario are about to be closed within the following 24 hours. The decision has come amidst the growing concerns related to COVID-19 and the outbreak it has had across the province of Ontario. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued the recommendation and the Crown corporation is sticking to it as a preventive measure.
Casino gaming is about to come to a temporary halt in Ontario, according to a new preventive measure aiming to reduce the outbreak of COVID-19 on a provincial level. This would happen through practicing social distancing and maintaining high levels of hygiene whenever an individual has to leave their house. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation strives to make the period an easier one for its patrons.
Ontario Casinos Closed
There are 24 casino locations sprinkled across the province and their operation is about to come to a halt this Sunday. The orderly shutdown has already commenced and it should be taken into account that it would take up to 24 hours for the move to be completed. The Crown corporation has not issued more details on the duration of this shutdown.
Right now, the health and well-being of both casino staff and the casino patrons making their way to the casino locations on a regular basis is crucial for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Last week saw a push in this direction, eyeing the protection of casino workers that are subjected to health threats on a daily basis. Theo Lagakos, president of Local 533 of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, pointed out the risks.
He claimed that the Casino Woodbine unionized workers are in need of better protection against the coronavirus. Players from around the world make their way to the popular casino location adjacent to the racetrack on a daily basis and the staff has expressed concerns regarding their health. Mr. Lagakos also pointed out that a large part of Ontario was already closed.
OLG Implements Preventive Measures
It was confirmed that Woodbine Mohawk Park and Woodbine Racetrack will be closed for at least two weeks. In the meantime, the casino location along with 23 more continued their operation amid the growing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Ontario. Casino staff is not allowed to wear masks while working with patrons, which heightens the risk of COVID-19 contraction.
The ongoing table gaming operation has also concerned the union, as the cards and chips are not subjected to a thorough disinfecting. Earlier in the weekend, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, operating leading locations such as Casino Rama Resort and Gateway Casinos Innisfil, made it clear that the hygiene measures across its gaming venues have been fortified to meet the public expectations.
Local 1090 was also among the labor unions protecting the interest of casino staff, claiming that a shutdown is necessary. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation oversees ten casino venues across the province. Moreover, the Crown corporation also manages 14 slot venues adjacent to racetracks. They are managed by Gateway Casinos, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, as well as Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment.
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Author: Yolina
Yolina has followed closely the latest development on the Canadian gaming scene over the past years, monitoring the land-based, lottery, and online offerings up for grabs. The dynamic nature of the local lottery and casino fields, as well as the opportunities lying ahead of Canada fire her enthusiasm for what is to come. A sports betting enthusiast, in her spare time Yolina could be found in her natural habitat – turning the pages of biographies and catching up on the latest stand-up comedy podcasts.