Niagara Falls, Ontario is one of the popular destinations for tourists from near and far, but over the past more than five months it has remained closed. Mayor Jim Diodati wants to see the two casino hotspots located within its premises relaunch operation in a safe manner and this could happen in close collaboration with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams’ assistance.
It could be recalled that mid-March, Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara announced their temporary shutdown amid the growing uncertainty. Niagara Casinos, the company that owns the two popular integrated resorts, issued its decision to close them for the time being and protect both patrons and casino staff members.
Reopening Plans
The precautionary measure was seamlessly implemented in collaboration with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and it took over the entire province, as all brick-and-mortar casinos closed for business. Now, more than five months later, the venues remain closed because of the restrictions in place at the moment. It could be recalled that mid-July, the Crown corporation announced casino reopening across the province will have to happen in a gradual manner.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation made it clear that the casino reopening will come with some conditions and restrictions. All types of gaming hotspots will be allowed to welcome up to 50 individuals at a time, reducing significantly the number of people making their way there. This will promote distance between them and eliminate any potential clusters of people while gambling.
This 50-person limit concerns casino operators across the province and they have left their casinos dormant. No gambling revenue coming from the casino locations mean that the city coffers of each respective host community fails to receive allocations supporting various local projects and initiatives. Niagara Falls, Ontario is among the affected regions without casino operation and the Mayor wants to see this change soon.
Close Work with Provincial Officials
Mayor Jim Diodati recently pointed out that the time for a change has come and the two casino locations are currently working on their respective reopening plans. They take this seriously, as a possible relaunch will bring a positive change to the area and to the people relying on steady employment. The Mayor reached out to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams who has the power to greenlight their operation.
Dr. Williams was invited to make his way to Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara and see for himself all the safety protocols that will be implemented once daily operation resumes on their premises. Some CA$1 million has been invested in the improvement and fortification of existing safety practices, along with the introduction of brand-new ones for everyone’s peace of mind.
The casino venues worked with an epidemiologist in order to make their safety plans as comprehensive as possible. At this point in the conversation, Niagara Region Public Health has given its nod to the reopening plans of the two casino venues and the 50-person limit might not be mandatory for them.
