Casino Rama reopens after 16 month closure
Casino Rama employees welcomed back gamblers for the first time in 16 months.
"Thursday is the day, and we couldn't be any happier," said Rob Mitchell, director of communications at Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited.
"It's almost like a homecoming both for our guests and our employees," Mitchell added.
The casino reopened its doors Thursday with enhanced safety measures in place.
Upon arrival, guests will have to fill out a contact tracing form and are required to wear a face mask and remain socially distanced from others.
Plexiglass has been installed on tables and some slots to maintain safety measures for employees and customers.
"For those who may be familiar with six spots on a Black Jack table, to make sure we get the plexiglass in between, we are often dealing to three, maybe four, positions, and the dealers will have plexiglass in front of them," said Glenn Trickey, vice president of gaming operations.
Poker tables remain off-limits because of the close-proximity of players.
Trickey said they have a target date of Aug. 19 to reopen the property's hotel. "Which will then introduce the Weirs Restaurant for breakfast and then hopefully in the fall, if regulations allow, reintroduce concerts sometime later in the fall."
According to Mitchell, the lengthy closure during the pandemic allowed Gateway Casinos to "take a look at the gaming floor."
Crews moved machines and tables to optimize space and lessen the amount of congestion in the casino.
"It's much more accessible now. It's easier to navigate the floor to access amenities," Mitchell said. "We have a very, very diverse variety of play that our patrons can enjoy, so we are quite please with the refurbishment."
The casino will limit capacity to 1,000 people to ensure social distancing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.