Winnipeg casinos prep for potential July 2 reopening

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Winnipeg's two government-run casinos are gearing up to reopen sooner than expected.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/06/2020 (1939 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s two government-run casinos are gearing up to reopen sooner than expected.

The Free Press has learned Club Regent and McPhillips Station are tentatively set to resume operations as early as July 2. The casinos have been closed since March 18, due to novel coronavirus restrictions, and were not included in the province’s Phase 3 reopening plan, taking effect Sunday.

“The employer has said the tentative opening date for casinos is July 2, and some employees may be called in a bit earlier for orientation,” a Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union spokesperson said Thursday.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRES
McPhillips Street Station casino (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press files)
JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRES McPhillips Street Station casino (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press files)

“It’s our understanding the employer is working to ensure protocols are in place to ensure the safety of staff and customers.”

MGEU members work in the food and beverage area of the casino.

No one from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. nor provincial Crown Services would confirm any casino reopening date.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at a media briefing Thursday casinos are on the agenda. Officials are looking at ways to safely resume operations, it’s just taking a little longer to hammer out a plan that works for everyone.

“If we look at just the grand scale of the casinos, and just how many patrons could possibly be in there, so I think that’s the type of thing that’s going to just take a bit longer to work out — just to ensure that we have a real solid plan,” Roussin said. “No doubt I think there can be a solid plan… it just didn’t make it into Phase 3.”

 

On Sunday, non-smoking VLT lounges and bingo halls will be allowed to open at 50 per cent occupancy in the third stage of Manitoba’s reopening plan.

Casinos were listed as one of the “future steps” and “will be considered in the coming weeks,” according to the province’s Restoring Safe Services document.

— with files from Danielle Da Silva

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

 

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