Edmonton is about to witness the demolition of its former Baccarat Casino and its transformation into a temporary parking lot for the community to enjoy. Ever since 2016, the former gaming venue has remained closed and just a shell of its previous performance, but this month it would see the official demolition of the building. The area at 101st Street and 104th Avenue is about to be transformed into additional parking space for Edmonton residents.
The outdated nature of some gaming offerings eventually leads to their redundancy, as more and more modern casino locations open their buildings for people from near and far. Slot gaming and table games are among the most popular gaming offerings, meaning that every casino location is obligated to feature them and meet the patrons’ expectations.
Demolition Commences Soon
Edmonton’s former Baccarat Casino is going to be razed in the upcoming months following three years of it being vacant. Locals have previously expressed their opinion that the building should be demolished, as it no longer serves the purpose it once had. Tim Shipton, Oilers Entertainment Group spokesperson, recently made it clear that the group listens to people and wants to see their expectations met.
Over the upcoming two weeks, the building would be demolished in a couple of mandatory phases that would ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. One of the first things that need to be done on the premises of the former casino location is a preparation of the area. It has already commenced, including the removal of overhead power lines, as well as turning off all utilities in the area.
Once this phase is over, the demolition process is about to commence following three years of no action at the casino venue. Projections for the said area include a parking lot and interactive space that would be in operation over the following couple of years until a permanent decision is taken. The introduction of enhanced sitting areas and more local activities would improve Edmonton.
Casino Expansion Made Venue Redundant
The reason for Baccarat Casino’s vacant state at the moment is the casino location in ICE district called Grand Villa Casino Edmonton. Gateway Casinos & Entertainment manages the premium gambling location that has been in operation ever since September 2016. It is one of the casino complexes built from scratch by the casino operator, eventually replacing the outdated Baccarat Casino.
It could be recalled that the beginning of September 2019 saw Gateway Casinos lay off some 50 unionized workers in addition to an undisclosed number of non-unionized workers. Both were full-time employees extremely valuable for the successful operation of the casino venue. In addition to that, the venue also reduced its work hours on certain days, optimizing the operation.
The move was announced only days after the casino operator revealed that Casino Rama in Ontario was also subjected to a staff cut. More than 100 individuals were laid off during that phase, substantially depriving the casino complex of staff. When all was said and done, Grand Villa Casino Edmonton also remained with significantly smaller staff – only 33 individuals.
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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.