After the recent technical issues in Ontario, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment has now started to restart work at its gaming properties across the province. On Saturday, April 29, 2023, the operator informed that it has commenced a phased reopening over the next few days. Gateway Casinos Innisfil kicked off operations at around 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Gateway Casinos and Entertainment is one of the largest land-based operators of gaming facilities in Canada, as it operates 14 properties in Ontario, 15 in British Columbia, and two in Alberta. However, its operations in Ontario were struck by a cyber-attack on the weekend of April 16, 2023, which led to a lengthy closure of all of its gambling locations in the province.
Reopening Process Starts
On Saturday, the leading operator informed that its Gateway Casinos Innisfil will be re-opening as of 12:00 p.m. local time. In its press release, the company said that slot and table games will be available for customers of the venue. In addition to that, it also reported that its Gateway Restaurant has also restarted work and is now accepting bookings and welcoming guests.
Furthermore, the brick-and-mortar operator also gave an update on its Casino Rama Resort which is close to Orillia. It reported that concerts at the property will proceed according to schedule. It also assured that it will restart work at its other Ontario sites over the upcoming days. Patrons are advised to visit its official website or follow its social web pages for the latest on the matter.
To conclude its statement, the company also shared that it valued the patience demonstrated by customers, employees, and government partners, while it worked on fixing the tech issue. It also said that despite the unfortunate incident it will resume work with third-party experts to determine, whether it has affected personal information while providing the latest updates to the public.
President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, Paul Burns, also said a few words on the lengthy closures of the casinos in the province. He commented that the operator has recently seen a steady return of players to its venues, but the cyber-attack was an unfortunate incident. He remained optimistic, that company will resolve the issue and will be able to return to normal.
Casino Staff Agrees to New Deal
Last year, Gateway Casinos and unionized staff members of Casino Rama managed to agree on a new and improved collective agreement. The new arrangement kicked off in 2022 and will run for three years. It awards workers with a wage increase of 9.5% over the duration of the contract, while also enhancing benefits and more. It was negotiated by Unifor Local 1090.
Back then, Chairperson and Second Vice-President of the labour union, Greg Weaver, said the wage boost will help staff recover from the multiple closures over the recent years. The new compact states that skilled trades are increased by 15% over the next three years, while also significantly reducing the wage progression scale and improving.
Source: “Update from Gateway Casinos and Entertainment” PR Newswire, April 29, 2023
