Casino Rama has made headlines over the past few weeks as a result of the controversial staff cuts that took place at the end of July. Gateway Casinos & Entertainment had some 70 unionized workers exit the casino staff for good as part of a staff reduction process. Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton now says that the casino venue faces hard times as casino expansion continues across Ontario.
For nearly two decades, Casino Rama has been associated with the job opportunities it offers for community members. The local engine powered the economy and guaranteed that Orillia benefits from both job opportunities offered and gaming revenue allocations. The more people making it to the casino resort, the better financial support they guarantee for the area thanks to the Municipality Sharing Agreement. Not that long ago the casino resort offered employment to more than 2,000 individuals.
Casino Rama Struggles after Staff Cut
Slowly but surely their number slumped to 1,200 ahead of the staff cuts taking place this summer which has been defined as an already low number. The most recent controversial wave of staff reduction has been estimated to reach some 150 individuals laid off. This cripples the location, as those who survived and continue working there would now have to cover their fired coworkers.
Apart from making up for the reduced staff, this is also damaging for the casino venue itself, as casino expansion across Ontario has been in progress for quite some time. Gateway Casinos is eyeing future casino operation in Wasaga Beach, London, North Bay, Kenora, and Sudbury but this is now the only casino operator that dominates the field.
Great Canadian Gaming is also actively working on an expanded Ontario portfolio. This year is dedicated to improvement and construction, as the leading company is working on its Pickering Casino Resort project. In addition to that, Casino Ajax would also continue operation, only making it clear that the casino operator does not fear field cannibalization projections.
Ontario Prepares for New Casinos
Casino Woodbine is also another project that would make for a diverse Ontario gaming scene. This landscape has a lot up for grabs already, with many exciting possibilities to come. It is crucial that all players are offered an equal chance for developing and competing against rivals.
Mr. Stanton highlighted recently that this might not be the case for Casino Rama. An understaffed venue is a big no-no for any facility, especially a gaming one aiming to cater to all patrons’ needs. Employees taking care of the dining offerings at Casino Rama Resort reported that the reduction is visible at this point.
People begin to notice a drop in the quality of service, as staff members are simply not enough. In order to prove a point and express its solidarity with the individuals that have lost their jobs, Unifor National launched the #NoJobsNoDice campaign that included a solidarity rally.
The beginning of this month also saw a meeting between Unifor National and Gateway Casinos, seeking a mutually beneficial solution to the staff reduction issue, which could eventually lead to unionized workers making their way back to the casino venue. For the time being, details have not been disclosed.
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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.