Niagara casinos plan for a ‘new world’
No date set for Fallsview Casino Resort, Casino Niagara to allow customers back once safety measures are properly in place
The operator for Niagara Falls’ two casinos is working on a plan for reopening and what that will look like in the “new world.”
In a May 22 letter to associates obtained by the Niagara Falls Review, Niagara Casinos president Richard Taylor said the province has completed the draft Ontario Gaming Industry Health and Safety Guidelines.
Once it’s finalized, it will form the basis for casino reopenings in Ontario.
Taylor said Niagara Casinos’ reopening committee has the details it needs to complete its site-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will need approval from Ontario Lottery and Gaming and Alcohol and the Gaming Commission of Ontario.
He said the committee is reviewing physical distancing and floor markings, signage, Plexiglas barriers or other partitions, use of masks, sanitization procedures and hand-hygiene stations.
Associates will receive training on all new health and safety measures “prior to your first scheduled shift to ensure you are familiar with these new protocols.”
Taylor said the plan will evolve over the next few weeks as they learn from other industries as well as casino reopenings in the United States.
Las Vegas plans to reopen its casinos June 4.
He said Niagara Casinos is polling customers for feedback “as we plan our reopening to ensure that we are able to meet their needs.”
It is also reaching out to associates to get their opinions on returning to work and how to keep the casinos safe.
“Your feedback is important, and we look forward to learning more about your views as we prepare to facilitate a return to work in this new world,” he said.
The letter does not include possible reopening dates for Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino Resort, but noted associates will learn more “when the time is right, and we are closer to a potential reopening date.”
“Right now, we continue to forge our new business strategies and as Stage 1 of the provincial reopening plan begins, we wait with patience and optimism that we are closer to our new beginning,” said Taylor.
“We monitor the publichealth environment closely so we will be ready, together, to reopen only when it is safe to do so.”
In an email to The Review, Jennifer Ferguson, Niagara Casinos’ director of marketing services, said a reopening date for the two casinos has not been confirmed. She said it will occur when it is permitted by the province.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and our associates,” she said.
“The province recently released its three phased reopening plan. Phase 1 did not include casinos and the details of phases two and three have yet to be announced by the province.”
Ferguson said Niagara Casinos’ reopening will align with public health guidance to deter the spread of COVID-19.
For example, she said, the casinos will achieve physical distancing of at least two meters, in part by admitting fewer customers.
Ferguson said there will also be enhanced cleaning, particularly of high-touch surfaces, and employee health-screening procedures.
“Our health-and-safety plans will be reviewed by highly qualified experts in infectious disease to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our employees and our customers safe and well.”